The Urban School Food Alliance (USFA) has welcomed another district into its fold.
North East Independent School District (North East ISD) in San Antonio will be the 18th district to join the nonprofit.
Formed in 2012, the USFA is comprised of the nation’s largest school districts, including Chicago Public Schools, Boston Public Schools and Seattle Public Schools.
Along with its goal to improve school nutrition programs by sharing best practices and advocating for policy aimed at improving student meal access, it also uses its collective purchasing power to provide high-quality student meals while keeping costs down.
Previously, the USFA has helped its member districts adopt an antibiotic-free standard for chicken and turkey. The nonprofit also recently partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop new educational tools to help schools with procurement challenges.
North East ISD serves 60,000 students across 70 campuses and provides over 9 million meals annually.
“North East ISD is an excellent addition to our growing membership and efforts,” said Dr. Katie Wilson, executive director for the Urban School Food Alliance, in a statement. “The nutrition team is doing incredible work in schools, and the San Antonio community, to ensure that every child has the healthy food and habits they need to succeed. The Alliance welcomes their expertise and contributions as we continue transforming school meals."