Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan served breakfast at Oak View Elementary School in Maple Grove Wednesday morning to celebrate one full year of the Minnesota Free Meals Program.

Wearing plastic gloves and a baseball cap, Flanagan stood behind the school cafeteria counter and asked each student if they would like a breakfast sandwich or cereal.

After Flanagan finished talking to children in the dining hall as they ate breakfast, she held a news conference in the school library, saying the program had served 150 million free meals to children in its first year full fiscal year: July 1, 2023. , until June 30, 2024.

“The questions we ask young people are not, “Do you have enough money in your account for lunch or breakfast?” We say, “Do you want a sandwich for breakfast or do you want cereal?” Flanagan said. “We should just feed them, no questions asked.”

In March 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed the Free School Meals bill into law, creating a state-funded program that reimburses schools for meals served to students who do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

The projected budget for the first two years of the program was originally $400 million, but is now closer to $481 million. Flanagan said at Wednesday’s news conference that the cost so far is up to $277 million.

“We made the decision that this was absolutely worth the investment,” she said. “When we think about what this means for the overall long-term success of our state, this is a price I think Minnesotans are absolutely willing to pay for Minnesota’s future.”

Flanagan said that while cost is part of the conversation, people should also talk about the benefits cited by parents and teachers over the past year, such as better focus and participation.

Flanagan did not specify what the Free Meals Program budget will look like going forward.

“We’re in this budgeting process,” she said. “Of course everyone is looking forward to the November (State Budget) forecast and we will have some idea of ​​that so stay tuned. I don’t want to fall over my skis and there are a few things that have to happen between now and November 5.”

Natalie Anderson, who is the parent of two children who attend Oak View Elementary, said the program has benefited her family.

“Mornings at our house can be incredibly chaotic,” she said. “My husband and I both work full-time, so our mornings are spent running, taking vitamins, feeding the dog, putting away the dishes. So not having to think about having lunch together, packing lunch and having a nutritional plan for our kids was a big relief for us.”

The state Department of Education’s preliminary summary estimates the program saved Minnesota families more than $267.81 million in its first year, the equivalent of $1,000 per student per year.

The report states that all public schools in the state participate in the program, along with 167 charter schools and 163 non-public schools, such as private schools or residential child care facilities.