Tuesday, July 23, 2024
Gatesville ISD announced via Facebook on Monday that all elementary and primary students will eat free in the cafeteria for the 2024-2025 school year.
While the school district has served free meals to the primary school students for several years, Superintendent Barrett Pollard said the school received official approval from the Texas Department of Agriculture to serve free breakfast and lunches at the elementary campus. The school is able to provide free meals under Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas.
“This is not a grant. We applied and qualified to serve this program because of the number of students that are currently eligible for free meals at the elementary campus,” Pollard said. “Depending on participation, this could cost the district approximately $60,000 for the year at the elementary campus. The greater the participation, the less out of pocket expense for the district at the end of the year.”
Under CEP, elementary students will not need to complete a lunch application this year, but their parents will need to complete a socio-economic form like at the primary campus, Pollard said.
The school district emphasizes the importance of participation in the program.
“Primary has been blessed to participate in CEP for several years due to student participation,” Pollard said. “We are hoping for the same result at elementary. We would love to gradually incorporate all other campuses into this program.”
Since charging is not allowed at a CEP campus, Pollard said students with funds in their account can use that money to purchase a la carte items. “However, they will not be able to charge those items once funds are depleted,” he said “The dinner program does not fall under CEP. It is free for all students at all campuses.”
Other area school districts will also provide free meals to their students, including Evant ISD and Oglesby ISD. Both school districts operate under CEP.
Evant Cafeteria Manager Lupe Hernandez said via email this is Evant ISD’s fourth year participating in the program that provides free meals for students in Pre-K through 12th grade.
Ogelsby Nutrition Director Melissa Wells confirmed that the school will once again offer free breakfast and lunches for Pre-K through 12th grade next year.
Oglesby ISD announced their participation in the program via a media announcement last year.
“Schools qualifying to operate CEP serve breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals,” the announcement states. “This approach reduces burdens for both families and school administrators and helps ensure that students receive nutritious meals.”
