KSD to end food delivery for unenrolled children

KELLOGG — Beginning next week, the Kellogg School District will no longer be providing meals to children not currently enrolled in the district.

KSD Food Services Director Raymond Lee was recently notified by the Idaho State Department of Education Child Nutrition Program (CNP) that there have been some changes to the Seamless Summer Operation food services program.

Instead of the usual National School Lunch Program, under the former extension of the SSO every student in the district is eligible for a free breakfast and lunch on the days that school is in session — this had also included any student(s) who were homeschooled as well.

But now that is changing.

By changing the language from "open" to "closed" as it concerns enrollment, the CNP is now requiring districts, like the KSD, to only serve food to children enrolled in the district and the community meal boxes that have been distributed on every Friday for over the past few months will now end after the Nov. 19 distribution.

According to a recent release from the KSD, when they were asked why the changes to who was eligible for the food, officials with the CNP responded with the following:

“With all the food shortages, staffing issues and supply chain constraints, a district’s top priority should be feeding students enrolled in the district.”

Nov. 19 will be the last date food boxes will be distributed to the community for kids aged 0-18 that are not enrolled in the four district schools, Canyon Elementary, Pinehurst Elementary, Kellogg Middle School and Kellogg High School. Pick up is at each facility from 8:30 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Parents with any questions or if further information is needed, the KSD asks that you contact Raymond Lee at 208-784-1348 or at raymond.lee@kelloggschools.org.