LANSING — Northern Michigan superintendents say they’re concerned that the state’s universal school meal program could be cut from this year’s education budget.

Legislative Democrats have proposed continuing $200 million in support for the program, while the plan from the Republican-controlled House would cut that item and include the funding in higher per-pupil payments .

In Michigan, school meals are provided through a combination of state and federal support.

Tom Mckee, superintendent of the Rudyard Area School District, says that the change would leave lower-income communities worse off.

McKee says about that 70% of the district’s meal costs are reimbursed by the federal government, with the remaining 30% currently coming from the state’s meal program.

But the uncertainty of s

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