Parents and students press SAISD board over Lakeview closed‑campus lunches, citing hunger and equity concerns

Multiple students, parents and board members pressed the San Angelo Independent School District board on closed‑campus lunch at Lakeview High School on Thursday, saying the policy has led to long cafeteria lines, smaller portions and students going hungry while calling for equal treatment across the district. The board's superintendent, Dr. Moran, said the policy is intended to improve academic outcomes and campus safety and that the district is following school nutrition laws and USDA guidance.

The public comment period opened with Sarah Alexander listing overcrowding, long lines, students running out of food, locked bathrooms and other problems at Lakeview, and asking the board to end closed campus and consider redrawing attendance zones. Student Aaliyah Carrasco, who identified herself as a Lakeview senior and CTE ambassador, said she relies on cafeteria meals because she works after school and described receiving smaller protein portions this year than last. Parent Geneva Rodriguez said some Northside families lack alternatives and described students offered toast instead of a full meal.

Dr. Moran told the board that school nutrition laws restrict allowing outside vendors or food trucks to operate in the same eating areas as reimbursable school meals, which risks losing federal funding. He said Lakeview currently offers free breakfast and lunch to every student and that the district is looking into portion sizes with the nutrition staff. Dr. Moran also said closed campus has reduced tardies after lunch and that administrators have provided interim improvements, including additional seating and deli‑style tables, and that he has requested input from the campus.

Board members described mixed impressions from campus visits. Some members said lines moved quickly and most students were fed; others noted that some extracurricular teams were absent during the visits and want to observe a full campus to assess flow when all students are present. Several trustees said closing campus was a difficult decision made to address chronic absenteeism and tardiness after lunch and to support academic improvement at Lakeview, which the board and administration said is academically underperforming. One board member said teachers reported gaining 10–15 minutes per day in a fifth‑period class because students returned from lunch on time.

Speakers raised several operational questions for the district to answer: whether portion sizes have changed, whether restroom pass rules were communicated to families, whether food trucks can operate under federal nutrition rules, and whether Lakeview can be provided additional food service infrastructure. Dr. Moran said he will follow up on portion‑size guidance, that the nutrition program will be asked to confirm portioning practices, and that parents should begin with campus leadership and follow the district's grievance process for unresolved complaints.

There was no motion or formal vote on the closed‑campus policy during the meeting. Board members asked for more campus visits, promised follow‑up on specific operational fixes, and reiterated the district's stated goal of improving instruction and attendance.

The public commenters and several trustees asked the board to explain timing and communication: multiple speakers said the closed‑campus change was announced shortly before school started, which they said limited families' ability to plan. Board members acknowledged communication could be better and said administrators would seek to provide clearer explanations going forward.

The board scheduled a broader academic update for its next meeting and encouraged parents to contact campus leadership, starting with Mr. Ramirez, to request meetings or begin a formal grievance if necessary.