Free Meals
Dear Oakridge Families,
Parents may be wondering about the status of the free school meal program due to all the headlines about a potential state shutdown pertaining to the state budget. Will breakfast and lunch continue to be FREE at Oakridge Public Schools this school year? In short, I believe so.
We know how important it is for students to have access to nutritious food to fuel their learning, and we will be proud to continue offering this service to every child, every day.
Our Commitment to Free Meals for All
We are certainly frustrated that we’re 25% of the way through our 2025-26 fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) and the Legislature has not yet approved a state budget. State law requires the school budget to be approved by June 30. Yet, the Legislature breaks this law each day that goes by without approving the state budget. May wisdom soon prevail so local schools can plan and prepare investments to improve student learning.
Despite all the above, we want to assure you that our free breakfast and lunch program is likely secure. Here’s why:
State-Funded Program: We believe the state of Michigan will continue its successful universal free meal program by funding this in the state budget.
Federal-Funded Program: Even if there were an unexpected delay or elimination with the state budget, Oakridge is in a secure position. Several years ago, Oakridge independently applied and qualified for a federal program called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) due to our high percentage of eligible families. This means that Oakridge will continue providing free meals to all students even if the state budget does not support free meals or delays free meals.
Putting Your Mind at Ease
We want to be transparent and answer a couple of "what if" questions you might have:
What if there is a federal government shutdown? Please be assured, a potential shutdown at the end of the month will not affect your child's ability to receive free meals. Our program will continue without any interruption.
What if the federal CEP program ended? This scenario is unlikely, and we have been told not to expect it. However, if this were to ever happen, we would have to transition back to a system where families fill out applications for free, reduced price, or paid meals. We only mention this for full transparency and want to stress that we believe in the stability of our current free-for-all program.
Making sure every student has the fuel they need to succeed in the classroom is a top priority. We are prepared to serve your children healthy, free meals all year long.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. I cannot guarantee anything. But, I wanted you to know that Oakridge has a plan A, a plan B, and a Plan C.
Serving you,
Tom Livezey
Superintendent