Background

Through the 2021 American Rescue Plan, the Springfield School District received funding to invest in their facilities. With 67 schools serving nearly 26,000 students, many of whom live below the poverty level, the school administrators decided to update school kitchens. By investing in their kitchens, the district purchased the necessary equipment to serve their students better food, more easily and affordably. Springfield educators know that their kids learn better when they are well fed. The district was the first in the Commonwealth to institute a universal breakfast in the classroom model which cut down on hunger visits to the nurse and improved time on learning. The Springfield School District is the second largest in Massachusetts, and Springfield is a diverse community of over 155,000 people – with 45% identifying as Hispanic or Latino and over 20% as Black or African American. It also experiences a significantly higher rate of poverty than the state overall. According to census data, over a quarter of its residents are living in poverty compared to less than 9.4% statewide. Over 80% of Springfield students automatically qualify for free school meals because of their family’s economic status. Most students eat more than half of their meals each week at school, as Springfield Public Schools serve breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner through federally funded Child Nutrition Programs. Springfield purchased a machine that makes empanadas (a type of savory Spanish turnover) to better reflect students’ cultural diversity and food preferences on the school menu