State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lindel Fields is asking state officials to investigate what he described as potentially fraudulent operations tied to the Feed the Kids program.
In a letter sent to Governor Kevin Stitt, Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond and State Auditor Cindy Byrd, Fields said the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s review of Feed the Kids, Inc. uncovered what he called “systemic fraudulent and deceptive practices” connected to the Child and Adult Care Food Program’s At-risk Afterschool Meal Program.
Fields alleged the Oklahoma-based organization inflated operating costs and overstated meal numbers in order to receive excessive federal reimbursements. He also claimed the organization submitted false information on program applications and in state and federal court filings.
“Recent information has come to light indicating what I believe to be systemic fraudulent and deceptive practices by this organization, and which undermine both the purpose of the program and the public’s confidence in its administration,” Fields wrote in the letter.
Fields credited Oklahoma State Department of Education staff and the U.S. Department of Agriculture for helping uncover the concerns during the review process.
“As State Superintendent of Public Instruction, it is incumbent upon me to uphold public trust and ensure that the resources allocated for the welfare of Oklahoma’s children are managed with the utmost integrity,” Fields said. “It is my firm belief that Feed the Kids’ actions represent not only a misuse of public funds but also a betrayal of the vulnerable populations these programs are designed to serve.”
Fields concluded the letter by urging state officials to launch a thorough and immediate investigation into the program’s operations.
