CINCINNATI (WXIX) – The Talawanda City School District is working to address more than $58,000 in accumulated meal debt as food costs continue to rise.
The debt affects the district’s 3,000 students across five schools. Holli Hansel, director of communications and public engagement, said the current debt level appears unprecedented for the district.
“To my knowledge, I don’t think that we’ve seen it this high. We certainly have had it always,” Hansel said.
The debt has grown as pandemic-era free meal programs ended and food costs increased. During COVID-19, meals were free for all students, but those federal funds have been exhausted, according to district officials.
“If food costs are going up for families, you need to think…