16 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY MAY 22-28, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Feeding Frenzy Federal cuts threaten students’ access to nutritious food. Continued state support is critical. By Micha James FORUM A golden age in school nutrition has arrived for the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District and other schools throughout California thanks to School Meals for All and Kitchen Infrastructure and Training (KIT), both state programs. However, as federal cuts to critical child nutrition programs begin, it’s up to our state’s leaders to determine how long this progress will last. School cafeterias are the biggest restaurants in town. At MPUSD, we dish out about 8,000 meals weekly. School Meals for All, which for three years has provided free breakfast and lunch to every student, and KIT have been game changers. Since last school year, we’ve seen a 30-percent jump in meal participation. Today, students are more willing to enjoy meals in the cafeteria with friends. Before, struggling parents would ask us not to feed their children, fearing the bill that might come with it. Universal free meals decrease the stigma surrounding school food— everybody qualifies for free lunch, thanks to state funding. Just as healthy food helps children learn, greater state investment through KIT helps us serve more fresh meals. Some MPUSD schools, built in the 1940s, are not equipped for the quantity or quality of meals expected in 2025. When one production kitchen considered purchasing a new tilt skillet, we learned that infrastructure upgrades were needed before installation. KIT funds—MPUSD received $1.2 million since the initiative launched in 2021—not only help us purchase the machinery and make needed changes, but they also offer us pathways toward making better meals for students. New equipment is only useful if skilled staff can operate it, and KIT supports culinary staff training. MPUSD encompasses three communities with different income levels and demographics. What unites them is how our students are nourished. Our mantra—we won’t serve anything we wouldn’t eat ourselves—means we do everything possible to serve the most delicious, high-quality meals. Government dollars empower our district to deliver on that commitment. However, federal cuts are already impacting our menus, making continued state funding more critical than ever. Despite a state budget shortfall, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed budget includes funding for both School Meals for All and KIT; our legislators should support these expenditures. Federal funds aren’t enough to continue feeding every child. Without School Meals for All, 44 percent of food-insecure families wouldn’t qualify for federal meal assistance. Continued investment from California legislators is precisely what is needed. State leaders must recognize our progress and support the governor’s commitment to sustaining these vital programs in the 2025-26 budget. Investing in school nutrition is an investment in our children’s future, and it’s an investment we cannot afford to cut short. Micha James is the nutrition services director for the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District and lives in Monterey. OPINION We won’t serve anything we wouldn’t eat ourselves. 55+ NEVINA™ - A TRILOGY® BOUTIQUE COMMUNITY® WILL GRAND OPEN STUNNING NEW MODELS JULY 12TH IN PASO ROBLES! The highly anticipated Grand Opening of expertly decorated new model homes at Nevina™ kicks off Saturday, July 12 th 11:00am to 4:00pm! The fun filled day kicks off a season-long celebration and will include tours of models, lifestyle presentations, light refreshments, live music, yard games and more. This is the perfect chance for eager homeowners to experience what life at the newest Trilogy 55+ community is like. The Grand Opening kicks off six weeks of Grand Opening events, interested buyers are encouraged to schedule a private hard hat tour of the model homes under construction now and take advantage of Pre-Grand Opening pricing. Nevina As one of the inaugural Trilogy Boutique Communities, Nevina will be located within the new Vińedo Master Plan in Paso Robles, California. Nevina offers ~413 home sites and the popular Freedom single family Collection offering 10 floorplans and square footage ranges from ~1,624 sq.ft. to ~3,232 sq.ft. with home prices range from the high $800’s to $1,000,000+. At Nevina, stunning rolling hills, live oaks and vineyards are the backdrop for this new community that will become the basecamp for outdoor exploration, adventure, and an exciting lifestyle. Nevina homeowners will enjoy not only an amazing location that is ideal for outdoor lovers, but also an exceptional lifestyle, a robust social calendar of exciting events, an upcoming resort-style club, Planned amenities at the new Wellness + Social Club™ include pickleball, fitness & strength, wellness opportunities, casual restaurant and bar, sparkling pool with lap lanes, walking and biking paths, outdoor social spaces and event lawn, on-site lifestyle director and more! Trilogy® Resort-Style Communities Life at Trilogy® communities is inspiring and distinctive, with a focus on the experience of living in a community more than simply buying in a community. Discerning buyers at Trilogy by Shea Homes® communities are making a proactive choice to try something unexpected, know their neighbors and experience a true sense of community. If having fun with friends & feeling great sounds good to you, you belong here. Schedule a Private Tour; Call for Information Don’t miss out on Pre-Grand Opening pricing! Call 805-429-4323 for more information and to schedule your private model home tour today. Visit sheahomes.com/nevina to join the email list for community updates. Sales: Shea Homes Marketing Company (CalDRE #01378646); Construction: SHALC GC, INC. (CSLB #1062050). Homes at Nevina, A Trilogy® Boutique Community® are intended for occupancy by at least one person 55 years of age or older, with certain exceptions for younger persons as provided by law and the governing covenants, conditions and restrictions. This is not an offer of real estate for sale, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, to residents of any state or province in which registration and other legal requirements have not been fulfilled. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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