New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham recently signed legislation to provide free school meals to all students regardless of family income, and Farmington schools say they’re ready to meet the demand.
Senate Bill 4, which ensures all students have access to free and healthful school meals, cleared the legislature during the recent 60-day session and set aside over $22 million in the state budget. The bill is accompanied by $20 million in the state budget to fund improvements to school kitchen infrastructure to help districts to cook meals from scratch.
Farmington Municipal Schools spokesman Roberto Toboada said in an email the district is ready to provide meals for all students.
“The effect, logistically, on the FMS Student Nutrition program should be minimal. Our teams are ready and equipped at a moment's notice to serve all of our students,” Toboada said.
Currently 51% of the FMS student population qualifies to receive free or reduced-price meals, while the remaining 49% buys or charges the cost at full price.
“We are excited to provide breakfast and lunch for all of our students daily,” Toboada said.
The Healthy Universal School Meals for All program will go into effect July 1, or the first day of an eligible school’s 2023-24 school year. To participate, schools must operate the National School Lunch Program as administered by the USDA via the NMPED Student Success and Wellness Bureau.
By enacting the legislation, New Mexico joins California, Colorado, Maine and Minnesota, which have permanent universal meals programs for students.
“The standards of nutrition that all national school breakfast and lunch programs are mandated to follow are issued by USDA and are very detailed and are rooted in established FDA dietary guidelines,” Toboada said.
Moreover, within SB4 legislation, all participating school districts must incorporate and use locally sourced New Mexico-grown produce, meats and culturally relevant foods in breakfast and lunch menus, Toboada said.
This aspect of the legislation is unique to New Mexico.
Taboada said the FMS Student Nutrition Department strives hard to ensure meals are of the highest quality and provide optimal nutrition for all students.
Nutritional targets for all school meal programs are based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. DGAs stress energy balance and nutrient density within a student’s diet, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
“School meal programs have a profound effect on the diet quality of the nation’s children, in particular children at risk for food insecurity,” the AAP states.
Toboada said students who are “well-nourished learn better and excel.”
“SB4 helps combat food insecurity in our state where one out of five students struggle with this hardship,” Toboada said.
