Currently, Briarcliff Manor UFSD is one of the few districts in our region that has opted out of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). While neighboring districts are leveraging state and federal funds to provide universal free meals to all students, our families continue to pay out-of-pocket for school lunches, or worse, students are going without adequate nutrition due to the rising costs of living and food inflation.

The District’s current "opt-out" status means we are actively declining millions of dollars in available state and federal aid—money that has already been paid for by our own tax dollars.

Why We Must Join the NSLP for the 2026-2027 School Year:

1. Zero Impact on Local Property Taxes: The Universal Free School Meals program in New York is fully funded through state and federal reimbursements. Enrolling in the NSLP will not increase the local tax levy. In fact, by not participating, our community is effectively "gifting" our federal and state tax contributions to other districts while receiving nothing in return.

2. Better-Quality, Regulated Nutrition: Participation in the NSLP requires adherence to strict USDA nutritional standards. This ensures that every child, regardless of their family’s income, has access to balanced, high-quality, and fresh meals that are proven to improve cognitive function and academic performance.

3. Support for Struggling Families: Even in a prosperous community like Briarcliff, many families are "asset limited" and struggle with the high cost of Westchester living. Free school meals eliminate the "lunch debt" stigma and ensure that no child in our schools ever has to wonder where their next meal is coming from.

4. Economic Efficiency for All: By moving to a universal model, the district can streamline food service operations, achieve better economies of scale with vendors, and reinvest savings back into the quality of the food served.

Our Demand

We, the undersigned, call upon the Briarcliff Manor UFSD Board of Education to prioritize the immediate inclusion of all district schools in the National School Lunch Program. We ask the Board to stop the postponement of this vital service and take the necessary administrative steps to ensure that Universal Free School Meals are available to every Briarcliff student starting in the 2026-2027 school year.