QUESTION
How do federal funds impact NYC school food menus, and what changes have been made?
2:18:48
·
150 sec
Budget adjustments and the introduction of federal resources are made to accommodate increased cafeteria usage and student consumption, not due to budget cuts.
- $60 million of city funds were swapped for federal funds to support school food programs.
- Concerns were raised about cuts to food menus and the substitution of preferred items with heat and serve options.
- Budget Director Jacques Jiha clarified that menu changes were due to more students using the cafeteria, not budget cuts.
- The budget has been modified to add federal resources to support the increased demand.
Rita Joseph
2:18:48
In November plan, ONB swapped $60,000,000 of Citi's funds for federal funds for school food.
2:18:54
While we were told there were no impact to school food budgets or operation, we're hearing that they're indeed cuts made to school food menus that high demand items are being swapped with heat and serve options.
2:19:05
Are there any stipulations surrounding the federal funds that would make certain food menu items ineligible for this reimbursement, if so what food would be omitted as a result.
Jacques Jiha
2:19:15
Okay.
2:19:16
Again, trying to clarify.
2:19:18
It's there was no cut of Citox dollars.
2:19:23
Basically, what we did, we swapped.
2:19:25
Okay.
Rita Joseph
2:19:25
That's not what we're hearing from schools and children.
Jacques Jiha
2:19:27
No.
2:19:27
No.
2:19:27
No.
2:19:28
MB then finish.
2:19:29
We swap.
2:19:30
But bear in mind, the city made some significant investment in Esculcafetilla.
2:19:36
So what we end up with, you have a lot of children hanging out in the cafeteria and eating more and more and more and more.
2:19:43
So therefore, what they did was, hey, they basically cut some of the items from the men So
Rita Joseph
2:19:50
you heard the word cut.
Jacques Jiha
2:19:52
They cut because more kids are eating.
2:19:54
Okay?
2:19:54
Not because there was a cut to the budget itself.
2:19:57
So what we're doing right now, we modifying the budget and adding federal resources for them.
Rita Joseph
2:20:02
That's not what we got from the schools and the students and all the news reports, even the the cooks and the kitchen and council is part of the to reenhancement as well.
Jacques Jiha
2:20:10
You could choose what I'm saying to you.
2:20:12
Okay?
2:20:13
We modified the budget to add federal resources.
2:20:15
This is not even $city.
2:20:17
Okay.
2:20:17
We're talking about federal tax dollars.
2:20:19
So we we modified the budget.
Rita Joseph
2:20:22
You modified the budget.
2:20:23
When when would we see that in the budget?
Jacques Jiha
2:20:25
We'll see it It's it's we already made the modification, so we will see it going forward.
2:20:32
Okay?
Rita Joseph
2:20:32
Is there is there a timeline when we can explain that.
Jacques Jiha
2:20:35
We already did it.
2:20:35
We already did it.
Rita Joseph
2:20:36
So if we go and look now, it's already just It's
Jacques Jiha
2:20:38
already just yes.
Rita Joseph
2:20:39
Okay.
2:20:40
If if schools cannot maintain the same food item, they were able to pry it to the swap of federal dollars, can can the DOE x city funds to be reinstated for that same program?
Jacques Jiha
2:20:50
There is nothing for city stocks dollars because as I said, we will get reimbursed.
2:20:54
From USDA for for for this.
2:20:57
So there's no need to add, say, tax dollars.
2:21:00
You know, we added already added.
Rita Joseph
2:21:05
You said it was a swap, and we will see
Jacques Jiha
2:21:08
added more.
Rita Joseph
2:21:10
So when we reach out to superintendents in school, we should be able to see that.
Shekar Krishnan
2:21:13
You should be
Jacques Jiha
2:21:13
able to see that.
Rita Joseph
2:21:14
We're gonna talk about my favorite subject, class size.
Jacques Jiha
2:21:17
Oh, boy.