Superintendent Nick Migliorino sent an email to Norman Public Schools families and staff Friday evening stating the district already had planned to provide free meals to more students before a mandate issued Sunday by Ryan Walters announced all Oklahoma public schools must fund free meals for every student with no additional funding.
Migliorino wrote in the email NPS approved plans in June to extend its federal Community Eligibility Provision, which allows schools to offer free breakfast and lunch, to nine additional NPS campuses. Migliorino wrote during the 2024-25 school year, over 550,000 free meals were served at 10 NPS campuses.
“We’re proud to provide this support and will continue looking for ways to increase meal access for students,” Migliorino wrote in a message that in part took issue with how Walters is leading as state superintendent.
Migliorino also encouraged families to still complete the free and reduced meal form during enrollment, stating forms determine eligibility and provide additional funding to support instruction, technology and other services.
The district also covers the cost of unpaid meal balances when needed, according to Migliorino.
“We absolutely agree that feeding kids is the right thing to do. Access to healthy meals supports learning, attendance, and overall well-being, which is why we’ve continued to prioritize it across the district,” Migliorino wrote. “That’s also why we have never, and will never, allow a student to miss a meal or go hungry, no matter their family’s situation.”
Walters’ mandate calls for school districts to prioritize funding free meals using existing state and federal funds, with Walters saying districts should reduce administrator salaries to make room for funding free meals in district budgets.
Walters threatened to withhold state funds and penalize the accreditation of districts that don’t comply.
“We need less administrators in our schools,” Walters wrote in a statement. “We need to get taxpayers dollars to the students, not to grow bureaucracy.”
In the email, Migliorino wrote claims from Walters regarding district budgets are misleading and NPS has not received any official direction from Walters despite efforts to discuss the issue.
“Norman Public Schools has not received any direct official guidance or directive related to changes in meal programs or accreditation, …” Migliorino wrote. “My fellow superintendent colleagues and I have extended many invitations to meet or talk with (Walters) about important topics like this, and to date, none have been accepted.”
Migliorino wrote in the email that the mandate is a “political distraction” and the district’s next steps will align with the proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year approved by the NPS board at its June 23 meeting.
“Once again, we will not let political distractions interfere with what matters most: taking care of our students, teachers, and schools,” Migliorino wrote. “Our focus remains on protecting services that support learning, well-being, and opportunity for every student.”
The schools enrolled in the CEP program include:
• Adams Elementary
• Dimensions Academy
• Jackson Elementary
• Jefferson Elementary
• Kennedy Elementary
• Lincoln Elementary
• Madison Elementary
• Reagan Elementary
• Wilson Elementary
• Cleveland Elementary
• Eisenhower Elementary
• Lakeview Elementary
• Monroe Elementary
• Truman Elementary and Primary
• Washington Elementary
• Alcott Middle School
• Irving Middle School
• Longfellow Middle School
