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How the country’s 25 largest school districts plan to operate their meal programs this fall

Here’s a roundup of fall opening dates and intended approaches to learning for the 25 school districts in Food Management’s 2020 K-12 Power Players listing, along with how they plan to provide meal service to students.

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

September 3, 2020

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As fall looms, school districts all over the country either have already begun classes or are making final plans to do so. While the decision to begin fall instruction online, in-person or through a combination of the two is at the top of the reopening agenda, how students will be served meals is also a major consideration, especially as almost every district will have to plan for serving students both onsite and remotely even if they intend to begin the school year exclusively with one approach.

Here is a roundup of their intentions from the 25 school districts included in Food Management’s 2020 K-12 Power Players listing, which encompasses the U.S. public school districts with the highest enrollment numbers as of last fall. The information is the latest available but subject to change in some cases given the USDA’s recent extension of summer meal flexibilities through the end of the year.

FM will publish the 2021 edition of K-12 Power Players early next year.

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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