Stamford Mayor Urges SPS To Add Funds For Free-For-All Lunch Program

STAMFORD, CT — Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons is encouraging the city's board of education to reinstate funding to continue its free and reduced lunch program for all students.

Students who qualify for the program will still receive benefits, according to Stamford Public Schools.

But the cost to continue the program for all students was estimated to be $1 million in the upcoming fiscal year, the Stamford Advocate reported late last month, noting the school board decided to cut those funds from its proposed 2025-2026 budget.

Federal waivers, which expired in 2022, were given out during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulted in a surplus in the district's lunch fund.

The surplus and a high reimbursement rate allowed SPS to offer free meals to all students over the last few years, the Advocate added, but the school district expects the surplus to run out by next school year.

Simmons, a non-voting member of the Stamford Board of Education, submitted a letter to the board which was read by Board President Michael Hyman during the regularly scheduled meeting on Jan. 28.

"I want to express my support for reinstating $1 million in funding to ensure that the free and reduced lunch program is maintained across our district. We know how important access to food and nutrition are to not only a child's physical health, but also their cognitive and emotional development," Simmons wrote. "Given continued rising costs and food insecurity, cutting this funding would negatively impact around 51 percent of our student population. I encourage the Board of Education to reinstate this funding to ensure all children in our schools have access to this critical program."

The Stamford Board of Education was slated to meet Tuesday night for a workshop meeting. A public hearing on the proposed school budget of $347.1 million is scheduled for Feb. 6 at 7 p.m.

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