During an April 21 meeting, PfISD Director of Food Service Geoff Holle requested that the school board go after what is called a United States Department of Agriculture Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP, Food Service Program administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
The federal CEP serves campuses that have 40% or more students enrolled in assistance plans such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.
District documents state campuses that qualify will be able to serve all students free breakfast and lunch meals regardless of free, reduced, or paid status. Costs and reimbursements associated with the CEP will come from the federal program, according to the district.
At present, Holle said costs are projected at $2.35 per breakfast meal and $3.66 per lunch meal.
Holle said there are seven campuses targeted for the 2022-23 school year CEP—Delco, Dessau, River Oaks, Ruth Barron and Northwest elementary schools and Westview and Dessau middle schools—and additional supplemental work for the applications is due by June 30.
With the board's approval, Holle said the TDA should confirm the seven campuses' inclusion in the program by July 1.
PfISD Chief Communications Officer Tamra Spence said the district has been working hard to inform parents that the free meals—that have so far been provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic—will no longer be available for the 2022-23 school year.
"I think food prices are going to continue to escalate," Board Trustee Vernagene Mott said. "What's happening on the world stage and what's happening in our country with farming, prices are going out the window."
