OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA (KOKH) — Food is fuel, something we hear so much of when it comes to students and being ready to learn, and after a push from the state superintendent for free school meals for all students, some schools are now trying to figure out how to cover costs after their budgets have already been set.
One month ago, State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced a statewide initiative that would require every Oklahoma school district to fully fund student meals using existing state and federal operational dollars beginning in the 2025–2026 school year.
“The schools have decided they’ve grown administrative costs 14% rather than prioritize students,” Walters said. “So what we’re saying is you are now going to prioritize students. There’s no reason in 2025 that a kid should be walking down the halls and not having lunch because they didn’t have money in their account. Their parents paid for it through their taxes.”…