Page 23 - The Edge - Summer 2021

AASBO SPRING CONFERENCE

BY DON HARRIS

Help Is on the Way for Financially Strapped Food Service

Food Service departments were hit with unexpected Lunch Program and Summer Food Service Program
expenses and a decrease in the number of students in school year 2020-2021. Basically, she told why the
participating in meal programs during the COVID-19 funding is available, where is it coming from, and
pandemic, but help is on the way. when can schools expect to receive it.

That assurance was provided by Jessica Krug, School “When the COVID-19 pandemic began, many
Nutrition Programs Specialist, Arizona Department of schools closed abruptly,” Krug said. “School food
Education, in a breakout session April 8 at AASBO’s service operations were interrupted, scaled back or
virtual Spring Conference. She told of a new funding some halted completely. They may not have had the
stream to help cover operating costs incurred at the resources to adapt to the new world that we were in
beginning of the pandemic. “We’re still early in the at that time. Schools closed. No one was allowed on
process, and we will have more information when we campus.”
get closer to funds being disbursed,” Krug said.
She recalled that food service operations shifted to
As AASBO members know, school food curbside or mobile service. Although many schools
service operations are primarily funded through were able to continue serving meals, participation
reimbursements received from the U.S. Department largely declined for various reasons. In some cases,
of Agriculture for meals served that meet federal families may not have felt safe leaving their homes
requirements, in addition to payments received for or they may not have had transportation to get to a
full or reduced-price meals. They may also be funded pickup location.
through food sales outside of the regular meal service,
such as a la carte sales, catering or snack bars. “There were many reasons, resulting in decreased
reimbursement revenue, while expenses remained or
Krug discussed the Child Nutrition Program’s increased in order to serve meals safely,” Krug said.
Emergency Operating Costs Reimbursement Program
for schools that operated under the National School The federal program adapted to the abrupt change.

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