If you have noticed empty shelves at the grocery store, you are not alone and the trend is starting to impact local school districts.
During the most recent meeting of Ellwood City Area School District’s Board of Directors, Superintendent Wesley Shipley reported that the district is only receiving 60 percent of its normal inventory.
He said items in shortage include trays and cutlery as well as food in general. According to Shipley, the district serves portions that are larger than the national average but have had to cutback because of the pandemic.
In order to address the shortage, he said that “extras” and snacks may see a cutback because of the need to focus on securing the necessities to keep the students fed.
ECASD is not alone in this struggle. Headlines across the nation have indicated that schools in all areas of the country are facing similar shortages, and officials expect the trend to continue far into 2022.
In July, the Pennsylvania State Department of Education released a letter to schools and in that letter foreshadowed the shortages and the impact it would have.
“The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Division of Food and Nutrition has provided school nutrition directors with guidance related to the allowable use of emergency procurement to obtain products, and the process to apply for waivers if products are not obtainable in order to meet the requirements of providing a reimbursable meal. It is important to note that the supply chain may begin to impact school menus, resulting in a decrease in variety or repeated and unpredictable last-minute adjustments—schools should consider proactively communicating this information to students and families.” Noe Ortega, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and Russell Redding, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.
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