Marblehead School Food Program Serving Up Shortfall

Two meetings ago the Marblehead School Committee heard that the district has done all it can to cut food program expenses but if students aren't buying then expenses will outstrip revenues. 

Last week school Business Manager Michael Musto and Superintendent Maryann Perry asked the committee for, and received, a transfer of $60,000 to the school lunch revolving account to meet obligations.

Transfers were needed last year, as well.

Rather than come back to the committee multiple times seeking smaller school lunch funding requests throughout the school year, school officials sought one larger transfer at the outset of the school year.

The district's food service program is not self funding.

At least part of the funding problem is that the district has few free lunch recipients — and therefore less reimbursement from the federal government — the business manager said earlier.

And beyond that, the federal government has added nutritional requirements.

The superintendent and business manager plan to bring forth recommendations to the committe because, as it stands now, the district can not continue to fund the food service program.