The Rhinebeck Central School District’s food services team is ready to prepare and serve the anticipated higher number of meals each day after the Universal School Meals Act was approved as part of the state budget earlier this year.
Each student will receive a free breakfast and lunch. A student choosing to have a snack, ice cream or additional beverage added to their meal will have to pay for the extra item.
Larry Anthony, who retired earlier this year as food services director and now serves as interim director, said he’s expecting the participation rate to grow gradually in the early weeks of the 2025-2026 school year.
“We’re ready for it,” he said. “It is an exciting time because this has been a long time coming.
“For years, it’s been about providing local and well-balanced meals. We have a strong farm to school program here. We’ve been able to source more local products. It supports the local community and local farmers.”
For lunch, students will have the choice of a hot meal that includes a grain, protein, vegetable and fruit; sandwich or salad. All meals come with milk. Some of the fruits and vegetables served with lunch will come from the gardens on the district campuses.
Following the approval of the state budget, a press conference was held in May at Red Hook with District 41 State Sen. Michelle Hinchey, who sponsored the bill in the Senate. Hinchey also is the chair of committee on agriculture.
Anthony and Superintendent of Schools Albert Cousins attended the press conference.
“There was a lot of energy there. We had a packed house,” said Anthony
Cousins was one of the speakers at the press conference.
“We applaud Senator Hinchey and New York lawmakers for their advocacy to ensure that all students have access to school meals so they can be ready to learn, play, and be their best selves,” said Cousins in May.