SUPERINTENDENT’S CORNER AUGUST 2026
As we welcome students and staff back for another exciting school year, I would like to recognize one of the many ways Tahlequah Public Schools supports our students year-round. While classrooms may be quiet during the summer months, our Child Nutrition team continues working to ensure children in our community have access to healthy, nutritious meals.
This summer marked another successful year of our Summer Food Service Program
(SFSP). During the summer of 2026, TPS proudly served 78,204 breakfasts and lunches to children in our community through our meal distribution sites at Fox Mobile Home Estates and Gardenwalk Apartment Complex. Families received weekly meal packages containing nutritious breakfasts and lunches, fresh fruits and vegetables, menus, and heating instructions, ensuring children had access to healthy meals even when school was not in session.
The success of this program is a testament to the dedication of our Child Nutrition staff, whose commitment to serving students extends far beyond the school year. Their hard work helps ensure that children in our community are nourished, healthy, and ready to return to the classroom each fall.
As we begin the 2026-2027 school year, TPS is proud to continue participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). Through CEP, every enrolled student receives one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day, regardless of household income. By removing financial barriers to school meals, we are helping every student start the day ready to learn and providing families with meaningful financial relief.
Although families no longer complete free and reduced-price meal applications, we encourage every household to complete the Economically Disadvantaged Survey. This survey is vital in helping our district qualify for state and federal funding that supports
educational programs, technology, staffing, and other valuable student services. It is not a meal application and does not determine eligibility for school meals.
For the 2026-2027 school year, adult and second meal prices are $3.05 for breakfast and
$5.30 for lunch. Students may also purchase a variety of à la carte items, including
additional entrées such as a slice of pizza or a hamburger for $3.00. Parents and guardians can conveniently add money to their student's meal account through Sylogist using PayPal or by sending cash or a check made out to TPS to the cafeteria cashier. Any remaining balance in a student's account carries over from year to year and may be used for second meals, à la carte purchases, and other optional food items.
We are excited to continue our partnership with Chartwells, whose team works alongside our Child Nutrition staff to provide fresh, high-quality meals students enjoy. Over the
summer, renovations were completed in both the middle school and high school cafeterias to improve the dining experience. These improvements provide additional seating at the
middle school and create faster, more efficient serving lines at the high school, allowing students more time to enjoy their meals.
School nutrition is about much more than serving breakfast and lunch. It is about supporting academic achievement, promoting healthy lifestyles, and strengthening our community. Whether we are serving meals throughout the summer or welcoming students into our cafeterias each school day, our mission remains the same—to ensure every child has access to nutritious meals in a welcoming environment.
As another school year begins, I encourage every student to take advantage of the healthy, delicious meals available in our cafeterias each day. Thank you to our Child Nutrition staff, Chartwells, our families, and our community for your continued support. Together, we are creating an environment where every student can learn, grow, and succeed.
-Heidi Krueger, Child Nutrition Assistant Director