‘Students need it’: New requirement costs 50 Oklahoma school sites funding for third meal
Fifty Oklahoma school sites have lost federal funding for evening meals after failing to meet new after-school program requirements set by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Fifty Oklahoma school sites have lost federal funding for evening meals after the State Department of Education required them to create structured after-school programs by Sept. 30.
Jerrod Lundry, superintendent of Haworth Public Schools in southeastern Oklahoma, said the district could not meet the new requirements.
“We’ve looked at all available avenues to try and provide this third meal to students. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide the after-school program,” Lundry said.
At Haworth Public Schools, 75% of students relied on the third meal every day. As of Wednesday, that program is no longer available.
Lundry said that the district lacked the time and resources to establish the structured program now required by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
“I was able to visit with Superintendent (Lindel) Fields. We discussed a lot of the concerns that I had, and he was open to hearing those concerns, and I certainly appreciate that. We weren’t ultimately able to find any solutions,” Lundry said.
>> Video Below: Oklahoma schools must create after-school programs to keep third meal funding
OSDE said it was the department’s decision to cut the program, but it came at the recommendation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture after a review found some sites were not following the rules.
When asked how many of the 50 school sites were able to implement the required changes, OSDE said it had not received updates from any of the affected schools.
Haworth Public Schools is now applying for other federal grants to provide meals for at least its elementary students.
“As long as we have schools that need it, students that need it, we should be able to find a way to extend the program,” Lundry said.
OSDE confirmed that applications for the new fiscal year are now open for eligible schools.
>> Video Below: Oklahoma lawmakers challenge education department over third meal funding cut
Dining and Cooking