Julia Bauscher

Controlling the paid meal debt was also a challenge, which I'm grateful they no longer have to worry about.

But again, as you mentioned, cuts in SNAP and Medicaid

could impact the district's ability to participate in that program.

So it's really, really important.

Yes.

And Amy, I don't have the exact numbers in front of me, but if you look at what USDA, federal government spends on school meal programs nationwide throughout the year,

It is a minuscule amount compared to what we're spending on some other programs.

And again, a small investment in healthy school meals means a better outcome in our education programs.

It improves the impact of every dollar you spend on education.

Well, when I began my career in 1994, there was still such a thing as a type A lunch.

We were still able to order butter as one of our USDA commodities.

So and, you know, I think people think we receive a lot of cheap.

government commodities, and that's not the truth at all.

That program has definitely improved over since 1994 because now we can process commodities.

So school districts can send beef or chicken or cheese and other commodity products to processors to produce products that are healthy.

I think the other mistake

that's the main misconception that school meals just aren't healthy and they're just garbage.

And that couldn't be further from the truth.

I was very proud of the school meals we served when I retired.

And I can tell you that the current director is doing an amazing job at expanding, you know, the menu offering different ethnic types of foods and,