State education leaders are expressing concern about their ability to meet the needs of students when it comes to meal distributions this fall. State Superintendent Michael Rice says the U.S. Department of Agriculture is not planning to renew flexibilities put in place back in March that are set to expire at month’s end. That includes allowing schools to distribute meals to kids not physically in school.
“This is going to have a very harmful effect on our children and families who are already struggling during the pandemic,” Rice said. “To limit the necessary feeding of children at any time is reprehensible. In a pandemic, it is an outrage.”
Dr. Rice says the waivers put in place have allowed school districts to distribute multiple days worth of meals at a time. He says the USDA will only say “they do not have the authority to extend such flexibilities.” Since March, school districts across Michigan have served a reported 80 million meals to students in need.
