Latest news with #FoodandNutritionServices
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Broward school meals: Families' next steps as universal free lunches will come to an end
Broward County Public Schools on Friday offered students' families some lunch-preparation updates for the upcoming school year, as the district transitions to no longer offering universal free lunches. For the 2025-26 school year, lunch prices will rise by $1 for paying students: $3.50 for lunch in high school, $3.35 in middle school and $3 in elementary school. But those costs wouldn't pertain to certain eligible students. In a news release Friday, the district provided additional steps that families can take. Broward schools on July 14 will begin 'accepting Meal Benefits Applications' at to determine families' eligibility for free or reduced-price school lunches. The application is available throughout the school year at For those eligible, each reduced-price lunch is 40 cents, the district said. Broward school district to end universal free lunches, raise lunch prices The application process marks a transition back to the steps in place before the district began offering free lunches to all students during the past two years, bolstered by program funding. For the past two years, Broward Schools' Food and Nutrition Services Department assisted families with the cost of meals through two U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, as well as Food and Nutrition Services funds, the district said in a news release. For the upcoming school year, 'free and reduced-price lunches will be offered based on eligibility, requiring families to complete an application,' it said. The district said automatically certified to receive free lunches are students who either: — Receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. — Have Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits. — Are 'enrolled in Head Start, Foster, Homeless, or Migrant.' Families should create an account for each student through My School Bucks at starting July 28, to buy meals and a la carte items, the district said. All students will keep receiving free breakfasts through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Universal Free Breakfast Program, the district said.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Miami Herald
The 44 Percent: Protect Black women, Pulitzer prize winner, cooking in Overtown
I think about what Anita Hill endured when testifying against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who famously weaponized race during the Senate hearings, when he said he was being subjected to a 'high-tech lynching.' I remember the leaked police pictures plastered on the internet that showed a bruised Rihanna following her abuse by Chris Brown. You would think it would elicit more sympathy from people or at least from his fans who blamed (and continue to blame) Rihanna for her own abuse. I sat with frustration for weeks on end when people taunted Meg Thee Stallion about being shot by Tory Lanez, who has mocked and harassed her since the 2020 shooting. We've seen the footage of the aftermath of the shooting and the photo evidence of bullet fragments being removed from her foot. Yet, people continue to falsely accuse her of lying about the shooting and some have gone as far as blaming her former best friend for the crime. This brings me to this week with Cassie Ventura testifying against Sean 'Diddy' Combs and Halle Bailey filing for full custody of her son following abuse by her ex-boyfriend and her father's son, rapper DDG. No one believes these women. It's 'protect Black women' until it's time to believe them. Nearly 35 years have passed since we've learned about the harassment Hill endured and we still don't believe Black women or hold their abusers accountable. Instead, we antagonize them for simply existing and seeking justice. When you say protect Black women, it doesn't only look like believing them. It means listening to them, ceasing microagressions, and providing them with the support necessary to receive justice and live any semblance of a happy life. That's what Anita, Rihanna, and Megan needed, and that's what Cassie and Halle need now. INSIDE THE 305: Broward school district to end universal free lunches, raise lunch prices Broward County schools will not offer free lunch to its students, Broward reporter Amanda Rosa reported. As Rosa writes: Mary Mulder, the Food and Nutrition Services executive director, told the school board at Tuesday's meeting that the department had continued with the free lunch program in order to deplete a surplus of funds 'from the COVID years.' Federal rules from the USDA limit the amount of funds the district's nutrition program can have on hand. It costs about $9 million to provide free school lunch each year. Miami native, daughter of Black historian wins Pulitzer for history Edda Fields-Black, a Miami native and daughter of historian Dorothy Jenkins Fields, received the Pulitzer for history. She spoke with me about the honor, which she won for her book 'COMBEE: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War.' The book used first-hand accounts to detail how Tubman and the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry Regiment were instrumental in what Fields-Black called the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history. 'It's a form of validation, almost, that these stories are important and that they must be told with the backing of the Pulitzer Prize, even under these very difficult circumstances,' she told the Miami Herald days after her win. Will this soup lead to a healthier and longer life? See what's cooking in Miami At the Overtown Youth Center, a group called Blue Zones is providing a way to improve the health of residents, Health reporter Michelle Marchant reported. The cooking class is part of a pilot program funded by Dan Buettner to encourage a healthier lifestyle and is based on his research and travels through the world's five longevity hot spots, also known as 'Blue Zones.' Research has shown that eating healthier can decrease a person's risk for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, certain cancers and other chronic conditions. OUTSIDE THE 305: Woman Who Sat Next to Travis Hunter Shared Funny Story How She Got Seat By Mistake A woman seated next to Travis Hunter on a flight to Jacksonville was pleasantly impressed by how polite and humble he was during a first class trip. She took to Facebook to dote on him like he was her grandson. 'Beyond the Gates' is renewed as veteran Black soap actors cheer its success My latest guilty pleasure 'Beyond the Gates' was renewed for a second season. The Associated Press chronicled what the show's success means and what it took to get there: George Cheeks, the CBS chief, told Vulture last year the show was born out of crunching numbers: 'One of the things that the data made very clear is that daytime soap operas over index with Black women.' HIGH CULTURE: Trick Daddy with Bigg D's Band & Orchestra On Friday night, Miami legend Trick Daddy will perform his hits with the backing of Bigg D's Band & Orchestra at Miramar Cultural Center. The black-tie affair will include surprise special guests. Where does 'The 44 Percent' name come from? Click here to find out how Miami history influenced the newsletter's title.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Broward school district to end universal free lunches, raise lunch prices
Broward County Public Schools will no longer offer free lunch to all students this upcoming school year. At Tuesday's meeting, the school board was informed that the surplus of federal funds that had been used to offer free lunch throughout the district for the past school year was finally depleted. For some Broward students, next school year will be the first time in several years that they will have to pay for lunch. In response to the pandemic, the federal government provided waivers for schools to offer universal free lunch, which expired in 2022. Some Broward schools continued to provide free lunches through the Community Eligibility Program, a nationally funded program for schools where 40% of the student population qualified for free or reduced meals, the Sun Sentinel reported in 2023. Dozens of Broward schools did not qualify for CEP, so for the 2023-2024 school year, the Food and Nutrition Services department applied for a federal U.S. Department of Agriculture pilot program to provide the remaining schools with free lunch. Broward's universal free lunch continued into the current school year. Mary Mulder, the Food and Nutrition Services executive director, told the school board at Tuesday's meeting that the department had continued with the free lunch program in order to deplete a surplus of funds 'from the COVID years.' Federal rules from the USDA limit the amount of funds the district's nutrition program can have on hand. It costs about $9 million to provide free school lunch each year. Hepburn explained that over the past few years, the district 'utilized the strategy of feeding all students to deplete [the fund balance] back to the levels that are appropriate based on the federal government.' Not only will universal free lunch end for the next school year, the price of lunch will also increase by $1. School board members voted to increase school lunch prices during Tuesday's meeting. Each meal is now $3 for elementary schools, $3.35 for middle schools and $3.50 for high schools. According to a school district memo, lunch prices have not increased in 12 years. Food and Nutrition Services runs a self-operating budget within the school district and does not receive money from the district's general fund. The cost of food, equipment, supplies and labor has increased, Mulder said. Parents will be able to fill out paperwork to apply for free or reduced price lunch starting July 14 at Breakfast will remain free for all students. 'It's so vitally important that we have these robust conversations now so there's no confusion as far as parents that need to fill out the paperwork,' said school board member Lori Alhadeff. School board member Rebecca Thompson showed interest in expanding free universal lunch and encouraged the board to discuss it further. School board members said they would discuss the idea in a future workshop. 'The economic situation of our state is not going to get any better and if there is a way that we can explore this and help families then we should do that,' Thompson said.
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Broward school district to end universal free lunches, raise lunch prices
Broward County Public Schools will no longer offer free lunch to all students this upcoming school year. At Tuesday's meeting, the school board was informed that the surplus of federal funds that had been used to offer free lunch throughout the district for the past school year was finally depleted. For some Broward students, next school year will be the first time in several years that they will have to pay for lunch. In response to the pandemic, the federal government provided waivers for schools to offer universal free lunch, which expired in 2022. Some Broward schools continued to provide free lunches through the Community Eligibility Program, a nationally funded program for schools where 40% of the student population qualified for free or reduced meals, the Sun Sentinel reported in 2023. Dozens of Broward schools did not qualify for CEP, so for the 2023-2024 school year, the Food and Nutrition Services department applied for a federal U.S. Department of Agriculture pilot program to provide the remaining schools with free lunch. Broward's universal free lunch continued into the current school year. Mary Mulder, the Food and Nutrition Services executive director, told the school board at Tuesday's meeting that the department had continued with the free lunch program in order to deplete a surplus of funds 'from the COVID years.' Federal rules from the USDA limit the amount of funds the district's nutrition program can have on hand. It costs about $9 million to provide free school lunch each year. Hepburn explained that over the past few years, the district 'utilized the strategy of feeding all students to deplete [the fund balance] back to the levels that are appropriate based on the federal government.' Not only will universal free lunch end for the next school year, the price of lunch will also increase by $1. School board members voted to increase school lunch prices during Tuesday's meeting. Each meal is now $3 for elementary schools, $3.35 for middle schools and $3.50 for high schools. According to a school district memo, lunch prices have not increased in 12 years. Food and Nutrition Services runs a self-operating budget within the school district and does not receive money from the district's general fund. The cost of food, equipment, supplies and labor has increased, Mulder said. Parents will be able to fill out paperwork to apply for free or reduced price lunch starting July 14 at Breakfast will remain free for all students. 'It's so vitally important that we have these robust conversations now so there's no confusion as far as parents that need to fill out the paperwork,' said school board member Lori Alhadeff. School board member Rebecca Thompson showed interest in expanding free universal lunch and encouraged the board to discuss it further. School board members said they would discuss the idea in a future workshop. 'The economic situation of our state is not going to get any better and if there is a way that we can explore this and help families then we should do that,' Thompson said.
