San Angelo ISD Releases Statement Regarding Lake View Lunch, Board Pres. Sets Record Straight

SAN ANGELO, TX — The San Angelo Independent School District has released a statement regarding Lake View's lunch situation. 

Also, yesterday, San Angelo ISD's Board President, Taylor Kingman, sat down in the San Angelo LIVE! studio to set the record straight.

You can watch that interview above and read the school district's statement below: 

San Angelo ISD recognizes the concerns expressed by students, parents, and community members regarding the decision to transition Lake View High School to a closed-campus lunch.

We want to be transparent about why this decision was made, the steps already taken in response to feedback, and how this decision supports our priorities of student safety, academic success, and compliance with federal nutrition standards. 

Why the decision was made:

• Safety and security: The decision to move to a closed campus at Lake View was made with student safety and academics as top priorities. A closed campus allows the school to better ensure students remain safe during the school day, control visitors on campus, and minimize risks when students leave and return.
• Nutrition and compliance: Food trucks are not permitted on or near campus due to federal regulations that require schools to follow strict nutrition standards for any food or drink sold to students during the school day. These regulations provide strict guidance on competitive foods in schools and outline Smart Snack requirements for the school day. “Competitive foods” (anything sold outside of the regular school breakfast or lunch program — like snacks, drinks, or fundraiser items) are restricted because they:
  • Must meet limits for calories, fat, sugar, and sodium.
  • Can only be from certain food groups (fruits, vegetables, dairy, protein, or whole grains).
  • Cannot take away from participation in the federally funded meal programs that provide balanced, nutritious meals for students.
• Academics and instructional time: Protecting instructional time is a priority across all campuses. Academic growth requires students to be in class and engaged in learning. Closed lunch helps ensure students remain on campus and reduces lost instructional time, supporting a focused learning environment. Since implementing the change, Lake View has already seen improved attendance and fewer tardies after lunch.

What has been done based on community and student feedback:

• Added more cafeteria and patio seating, with bistro-style seating for 150 more students being installed soon.
• Planning for an additional serving area in the near future to further speed up lunch lines.
• Adjusted processes to ensure enough meals are prepared and students are served in a timely manner.
• Continue to provide multiple serving options daily: two free meal lines, a hot a la carte line, and a grab-and-go snack line.

Additional Information:

• All students at Lake View are able to have a free breakfast and lunch every day under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. Eligibility in this program is based on the percentage of identified students at Lake View High School and its feeder schools who are categorically eligible for benefits, such as those in households receiving SNAP or TANF, foster children, or students identified as homeless, migrant, or runaway. 
• Portion sizes and nutrition requirements are set and regulated by the Texas Department of Agriculture under United States Department of Agriculture guidelines. Students also have the option to purchase an additional entrée or full meal at regular student prices.
• At this time, Central High School remains an open campus due to cafeteria capacity. The district plans for Central to transition to a closed campus when the new cafeteria is built, which will seat approximately 860 students. This project is expected to be completed in about three years.

While adjustments will continue to improve the student experience, at this time, there are no plans for Lake View to return to an open campus or reintroduce food trucks due to safety, compliance, and academic priorities.

San Angelo ISD remains committed to listening to our community while ensuring safe, supportive learning environments for all students.