Government shut-down concerns unwarranted, area superintendents agree; food services OK

Roxie Murphy, Staff Writer
Posted 1/23/19

Area school district superintendents say food services programs will continue, despite the partial government shut-down.

While balances are either over-budget or close to budgeted amounts, …

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Government shut-down concerns unwarranted, area superintendents agree; food services OK

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Area school district superintendents say food services programs will continue, despite the partial government shut-down.

While balances are either over-budget or close to budgeted amounts, superintendents say it has nothing to do with the government shut-down.

Maries R-2 School District Superintendent Dr. Patrick Call said their lunch account has a negative balance of $32,273.68. However, he attributes that to shorter months in November and December.

“It’s not due to the government shut-down,” Call said. “We always run behind, especially this time of year. It’s typical that since December is a short month, the payment for December is smaller. So we are playing catch-up.”

He said the district does not expect to receive a payment in January.

“The way things are going, they will catch it up, but the district has to carry the negative balance longer,” Call said.

He added that the Belle schools receive a higher reimbursement payment in June when everything is done. That amount helps to balance the account.

Gasconade County R-2 in Owensville has a year-to-date expense of  $327,206.94 and year-to-date revenue of $328,054.47.

“We are about $1,000 above water,” said Owensville Superintendent Dr. Chuck Garner. “That is about $10,000 less than last year.”

Garner said it isn’t the government shut-down that has affected the lunch account as much as a decrease in participation and an increase in cost of supplies. He listed the cost of food, supplies, equipment, and salaries to name a few. 

“We can’t afford for participation to go down,” Garner said, while adding that there was a federally mandated minimum 10-cent increase last year. “We also have to keep a line on expenses,” Garner said.

The Owensville district is right under half of their expected food program budget for the year.

Superintendent Chuck Woody in the Osage County R-3 district located in Westphalia, said the shut-down has not affected their food service program to-date.

“I also saw an article (Monday) dealing with SNAP which is a portion that ties in for students on either reduced or free meals and that program is still okay at least at the moment,” Woody shared. “As far as year-to-date, we are within our outlined budget and have no concerns in that area.”

The Westphalia district’s budget is currently $114,639.40 in year-to-date expenses on student portion or 57 percent of the line item. The adult lunch account has expenses is $5,767.95 or 44 percent of the line item.

Superintendent Lyle Best, Osage County R-1 District  in Chamois, echoed Woody’s response.

“Same as Chuck (Woody) on reimbursement for meals,” Best said. “I believe the latest notice was that funding was good through February service.”

Best said the district’s food service program is right in line with their projected expenditures as well.

“We have spent $65,965 on food service through December — 44 percent of the (food services) budget. Federal revenue (reimbursement) is $29,611.  Local revenue $18,783,” Best said. “No concerns as of now relating to the shut-down.”

It may be that the Osage County R-2 district in Linn has communicated the most with students and parents regarding the lunch situation. Superintendent Dr. Lenice Basham said despite false rumors that the shut-down would force all students to pay full-price for lunches, the district will continue to provide free and reduced-price meals.

“Linn will continue to provide meals for our free/reduced lunch students during the shut-down,” Basham said. “An email went out to all of our parents last week telling them that.”

Basham said the district has expended 52 percent of its Food Service Program budget year-to-date, which is in line with their projections.

“Meal prices for parents will remain the same as they were prior to the shut-down,” Basham reassured parents. “We have no concerns right now.”