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Phippsburg residents donate to erase student meal debt, but experts say school meals should be free after
Although families can apply for a child to receive free or reduced-priced meals based on a family s income and size, universally free school meals would be academically and financially beneficial.
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Phippsburg community members recently banded together to pay off student meal debt at Phippsburg Elementary School, but experts say free school meals for all students would be beneficial for financial, academic and health reasons.
Ann Marie Bartoo, left, and Anna Varian.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture implemented a Modified Summer Food Service Program, which suspends meal costs for the 2020-2021 academic year until Sept. 30 to relieve families of the cost during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the program doesn’t erase student meal debt families accrued prior to the pandemic.
AUGUSTA The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently released a continuation of needed flexibilities for the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) through Summer 2021. We are so grateful for the USDA waiver extensions through this incredibly difficult time, said Walter Beesley, Maine Department of Education s Director of Child Nutrition. The newest extension will allow Maine schools to continue to provide complimentary emergency meals in creative ways at school, remotely, and on weekends to children of all ages through the summer months.
In response to the needs of program operators and State administrators, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service has released a series of waivers to maximize flexibility and limit exposure to COVID-19, while maintaining accountability. The waivers are currently scheduled to expire June 30, the statutory end of the school year.