BSD gets over $1M to feed students

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This article was published 06/09/2024 (603 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon School Division has received more than $1 million to provide students with a nutritious meal or snack as part of the universal school nutrition program, a provincial spokesperson said.

Premier Wab Kinew and Education Minister Nello Altomare celebrated the first week of the universal school nutrition program at a school in Winnipeg’s Rossmere area Thursday morning.

The NDP government committed $30 million in this year’s budget to ensure food is available to all public school students. About $21 million has been allocated to public schools within the 37 school divisions, with $6 million specifically earmarked for 50 schools in communities with “high socio-economic need.”

“We made a commitment to Manitoba families that we’d make sure kids across our province had access to food when they go to school, and we’ve delivered on that promise,” Kinew said. “As kids head back to class this week, they’ll be able to get a meal or a snack when they need one, so they can concentrate, learn and reach their full potential.”

The Department of Education has been working with school divisions to develop the program and will continue to do so, the provincial spokesperson told the Sun.

“School divisions were given planning templates that were approved by the department in June and will be required to report back to the government in January and July of 2025 on their progress,” she said.

“Over one million dollars was given to the school division in Brandon to supply nutritious snacks and meals.”

Brandon school board members expressed support for the newly launched program, saying the initiative will address a critical need among students and enhance their learning environment.

Trustee Calistus Ekenna said the program has the potential to make a significant impact on student well-being.

“We want to ensure that our students’ needs are met, and one of their critical needs is to ensure they are not just fed but fed nutritiously,” Ekenna told the Sun on Thursday.

“It’s also a way of giving back to the community and supporting our neighbours. Through this program, we’re paying it forward to the younger generation, ensuring that schools become a safer place for them by meeting their critical needs.”

He said the board had briefly discussed the implementation of the initiative, with a focus on evaluating areas of higher socio-economic need in the division.

“We’re going to evaluate further before a final decision is made, but the number of students accessing this critical service continues to grow,” Ekenna added.

Trustee Kirk Carr said feeding students, particularly those from families facing financial difficulties, is important.

“Anytime that we can feed our children, it’s always a good thing,” he said in an interview. “One of the biggest issues we have in school is that some kids are not getting enough. This money goes towards fixing that and will hopefully lead to better performance in school.”

Carr said the new program will complement existing efforts in the division’s schools, using the infrastructure already in place to expand their reach.

He likened the program to Canada’s universal health-care system, saying it should be viewed as a long-term commitment.

“This is one of those programs that should have been around when I was in school. We’ve got to meet the basic needs of our children. Kids shouldn’t be going hungry,” he said.

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