11/1/23
Free MPSD Breakfast/Lunch Program Returns (no eligibility paperwork needed)
Dear MPSD families and staff,
Amid community concerns about making sure no Manitowoc Public School District children go hungry, I have made the decision, with support from our Board of Education, to resume a federal universal school meal program this school year.
Starting this Monday, November 6, 2023, for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year, MPSD will offer free breakfast and lunch meals to all students regardless of eligibility, continuing a practice the district began to offer during COVID. Breakfast will be provided in our schools before school starts so our academic instruction will not be interrupted or delayed. See each MPSD school’s breakfast time on the next page.
We need to make academic learning our number one priority — and raise student reading proficiency levels from our current state of only 30% of K12 students reading at grade level. This priority outweighs the financial benefit or burden of the food service program with before-school breakfast times. The district has reviewed the transportation schedules to ensure that all K12 students who receive district transportation will arrive in time to participate in before-school breakfast if they wish.
The USDA has approved our waiver request to allow MPSD to rejoin the Community Eligibility Provision for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year, similar to how meals were offered during the 2022-23 school year.
This summer we notified families via letter that I had made the decision to return to a free, reduced and paid meal program in which students whose families were eligible and completed a simple form could continue to receive free or reduced cost meals. Families who could afford to pay for their children's meals would not receive free/reduced meals. That decision has drawn considerable attention and criticism, which has persuaded me and the Board that a program reversal is in order.
I would be happy to explain the details surrounding this decision to anyone who would like to contact me (920-686-4781, [email protected]). My bottom line is I do not want any children to go hungry, and our principals and Solutions Teams will look for any children who may fall through any gaps to ensure they are fed.
Sincerely,
James Feil
MPSD Superintendent
