Trustee Dr. Elkins Scott asked the board on Oct. 28 to consider immediate steps to support families facing a Nov. 1 lapse in SNAP benefits. The trustee said many students and families depend on school meals and called for the district to prepare supports before the next board meeting on Nov. 11.

Superintendent and district staff responded that the district is assembling a plan and would finalize it promptly. The administration said the district’s social‑work team, led by Abby Cobb, and the communications office are coordinating a district‑wide food drive and partner outreach; staff noted that an upcoming Thanksgiving break could leave families without access to school meals for as many as nine days.

“We are definitely looking at ways, and we will share out with the board what our plan is,” the superintendent said, adding that the district would let the public know how to donate and that social workers would distribute food. Administration staff also suggested relying on district partners for donations or gift cards and asked trustees to consider personal donations as well.

District staff cited a statistic that 64% of Richland 2 students currently live in poverty and emphasized the need to ensure students have food during school closures.

Why it matters: A lapse in SNAP benefits would affect families’ ability to provide meals, and school meal programs are a primary nutrition source for many students. The board asked the administration to supply a written plan in the board packet because trustees will not meet again until Nov. 11.

Provenance:
- topicintro: 50:02 — Trustee Elkins Scott requests plan for Nov. 1 SNAP lapse.
- topfinish: 53:26 — Superintendent and staff outline planned food drive and partner coordination; staff will share final plan with board.