During the April 25th regular school board meeting, the school board adopted a partial implementation of the Community Eligibility Provision. The Provision would set out to allow certain schools within a distinct grouping to receive free breakfast and lunch for their students for the upcoming 17/18 school year. Along with this, the provision would also allow for the district to receive reimbursement from state funding sources.
Board member Susan Duval was the first to comment, voicing concerns over the inclusion of some schools throughout all the districts and whether or not a school can choose to be included in this provision or opt out of it. It was clarified by Lori Drenth, Food Services Director, that although nothing is set in stone, the numbers still would have to be reviewed on a school by school basis.
In some cases, where Drenth’s calculations would lead to schools receiving 100% reimbursement for the free meals, the addition of certain schools like Challenger K – 8, for example, would negatively affect this provision and would cause schools to receive less from their reimbursement.
As for the increased inclusion of schools through the district, Drenth clarified that adding any schools to the provision would have to be done gradually. With all the requirements met, the partial implementation of the provision would take place in 9 elementary schools, 2 K – 8 schools, 4 middle schools, and the Endeavor/Discovery Academy.
The schools that are excluded from the provision are the 5 High schools, Challenger K8, Chocachatti Elementary School and charter schools.
The partial implementation of the Community Eligibility Provision passed unanimously with the understanding that as the school years go on, gradually, more schools will be included as long as they maintain the strictest fiscal responsibility.