SNA Survey Reflects Worry for Coming School Year

Date: July 14, 2021 Posted by Mail Twitter Facebook

A new nationwide survey of 1,368 school foodservice directors from the School Nutrition Association (SNA) released last week revealed serious concerns for the upcoming school year. SNA’s Back to School 2021 Report highlights worry surrounding operational challenges, the financial strain caused by COVID-19 and achieving regulatory compliance.

Operational Concerns
Despite USDA extensions of COVID-19 waivers through school year 2021/22, the survey indicates school foodservice directors are concerned about the upcoming school year:

• 97% are concerned about continued pandemic supply chain disruptions, with 65% stating this is a serious concern
• 90% are worried about staff shortages
• 82% are concerned about low meal participation

Concerns about pandemic meal service modifications, barriers to serving distance learners and meeting school nutrition standards are also noted.

Financial Worry
Financial sustainability of school meal programs is a top concern for school foodservice directors. While school nutrition programs have historically operated on tight budgets, pandemic-related losses and rising food and labor costs have left many in the red.

• Nearly half (48%) of school foodservice programs anticipate a net loss for school year 2021/22, with an additional 20% of respondents unsure of what to expect
• Of those anticipating a loss, only 32% have sufficient funds in reserve to cover that loss; Nearly 30% of respondents have requested district general funds to cover losses

Regulatory Compliance
A vast majority of respondents expressed concerns about Final Target sodium regulations coming in July 2022 and the ongoing challenge of student acceptance of whole grain rich foods, both negatively impacting student participation and further complicating the financial picture.

USDA waivers allow states to provide targeted flexibility for school meal programs struggling to meet sodium and other meal pattern mandates through school year 2021/22. Still, SNA is urging Congress and USDA to delay Target 2 mandates until July 2024, eliminate Final Target sodium limits and restore the mandate that half of all grains offered with school meals be whole grain rich. 

While the survey painted a worrisome picture for school year 2021/21, there are a few positive notes to mention. Survey respondents recognized a handful of benefits associated with free meal service, including:

• Better student access to meals
• Increased meal participation rates
• More equity among students
• Less unpaid meal debt for families
• Reduced stigma low-income students may face