School Nutrition Association • May 2022 • First Word

WHILE SNA, ITS MEMBERS AND ITS MANY ALLIES CONTINUE TO PRESS LAWMAKERS IN CONGRESS TO PASS LEGISLATION that would provide USDA with the authority to extend child nutrition program waivers into SY2022-23, the clock is running out on such action, as the current waivers expire on June 30. Advocates in education, hunger relief and child wellness have all joined SNA in grim predictions for the school year ahead without the flexibilities and funding these waivers provided.

Significant participation drops lead the list of potential catastrophic consequences. Other possibilities include record spikes in unpaid meal debt, schools and districts discontinuing the federal program, vendors (unable or unwilling to reformulate products to meet stricter whole grains and sodium targets) leaving the K-12 segment and veteran school nutrition directors and supervisors, already burnt out, opting to retire or leave the profession. It is, indeed, a harrowing forecast.

But I remain hopeful about the future. I am confident that the passionate women and men that work in this segment are going to rally, doing whatever it takes to keep feeding kids, keep innovating menus, keep making the cafeteria a fun and nurturing space and keep earning the right to wear those superhero capes.

I’m not dismissive of the difficult challenges that lie ahead. But after 28 years of observing, reporting and advising school nutrition professionals through the pages of this magazine, I believe my rose-colored glasses are well-earned. Within mere days of the news breaking about the failure of Congress to include waiver authority in a key funding bill, I saw many, many school nutrition directors square their shoulders and set about making plans. They didn’t wallow in disappointment or fear, although there has been much of both to go around. They started reaching out to their networks of colleagues and peers in other districts in their state, region and across the country to brainstorm and share approaches for tackling the most immediate hurdles.

In the meantime, I continue to see so much joyful creativity in social media posts from school cafeteria teams. It’s been a long, hard year—on top of another long, hard year—but smiling faces and amazing culinary creations abound! Themed menus, decorations and events around Star Wars Day, School Lunch Hero Day and end-of-year celebrations are among the most recent shining examples of the spirit and resilience that are the hallmarks of this profession. I have faith that, despite the struggles ahead, the love of doing what you do for kids will dominate in SY2022-23. Stay strong!