BSD to use 65% of $1M allocation on food, beverages
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/09/2024 (572 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Brandon School Division plans to use about 65 per cent of its provincial school nutrition funds on food and beverages for students, according to Supt. Mathew Gustafson.
BSD received $1,020,000 from the provincial government to provide students with a nutritious meal or snack as part of the universal school nutrition program.
Gustafson said the funding will supplement the division’s existing nutrition program, which includes breakfast, lunch and snacks, and is accessible to all students in every school across the division.
Supt. Mathew Gustafson says out of the $1,020,000 total amount allocated to Brandon School Division, approximately 65 percent will be spent on food and beverages, with the remaining 35 per cent to be used for staffing and equipment. (File)
“Out of the $1,020,000 total amount allocated, approximately 65 percent will be used for food and beverages,” he told the Sun in an email. “The remaining 35 per cent (is) to be used for staffing and equipment (that) includes appliances, storage/cabinet requirements, and supplies such as dishes & utensils.”
Schools, he said, will receive their share of the funding based on such factors as student population and specific needs, and will use the extra support to address more pressing nutrition gaps and enhance their food programs.
Three schools — George Fitton, Betty Gibson and Earl Oxford — “have been designated provincially as community schools based on several factors,” Gustafson said, adding that “$360,000 (of the $1,020,000 total) has been allocated to these three schools.”
Regarding the diverse dietary requirements of students, the division is taking steps to ensure inclusivity in the meal options provided, he said.
“Food and beverage items served will follow Canada’s Food Guide, schools will provide a variety of food items, balanced across the food groups, and gluten-free options will be available,” he said.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the program, BSD plans to maintain and strengthen existing partnerships with community organizations.
“We will continue collaborating with the Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba and Brandon’s Food for Thought Program,” Gustafson said.
Premier Wab Kinew and Education Minister Nello Altomare celebrated the first week of the universal school nutrition program last week at a school in Winnipeg’s Rossmere area.
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.”
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