[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6626395,"mediaKeyId","2753584-6b4f40c0716ce616cfd0448f53a84027","parentId",2753584,"title","County school leaders warn federal changes could shrink free-meal coverage under CEP","audioSeconds",1284,"startMs",1262000,"endMs",2546000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753584-6b4f40c0716ce616cfd0448f53a84027&start=1262&end=2546","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753584-6b4f40c0716ce616cfd0448f53a84027/thumbnail_1262000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6626395/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/County-school-leaders-warn-federal-changes-could-shrink-free-meal-coverage-under-CEP","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626395-5ec307af781972e47ec793215dbcbc1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775444181&Signature=nFt6l~X2ZpKLIx-zzTArcABE7yGyuTz2usnVRmjQGDu~G99fHnJhk~ZnAdG~yr6Facn0xADW9yMHSirwlgukQtKl44uOJN9q1J9JIL5kg9~CHm-6r66k9O59XBdfy-lLKKX~Xagxow1FQPLf660sCrAGla1IGdl0vBIUjXoGWRI8GdwzufI3bTHOTszHa4~d-d-syTocEQfZm73H36W7124NdLmSL1qZvX~SUwt05aI6f1dsii6nT5T-9VelXrI2TiL3iSASkqlC02nM2K4Xj929RLdfZYmkdL2wwpXePNh~HmV3januawxjQ9BbEJuIh~OY4fmtCumDdWIr5BJQaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Prince George","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) leaders told the County Council Education & Workforce Development Committee on March 24 that proposed federal policy changes could reduce the number of schools eligible for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and increase administrative burdens for the district's child nutrition program.

Superintendent Millard House told the committee that ensuring students receive healthy meals is a district priority and that recent federal policy announcements \"impact everything from meal reimbursement rates to nutrition standards, procurement processes, and evolving regulations.\" He said PGCPS is monitoring those changes closely and coordinating with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE).

Mary Kirkman (referred to in later remarks as Director Kirkland in the transcript), director of food and nutrition services, told the committee that 32 schools in the district currently receive CEP, which allows schools or groups of schools to serve breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge. She said proposed legislation would change eligibility calculations — raising the threshold for identified student percentage from 40% to 60% — and, as a result, \"there will be, close to 100 schools, that will lose, CEP status, and they will have to go back to doing their F AR M S applications.\" Kirkman also said proposals would require families who submit Free and Reduced-price Meals (FARMs) applications to verify income rather than subjecting a subset to random verification.

District staff estimated that roughly 70,000 children could be affected if the CEP threshold rises, and Finance staff told the committee that PGCPS child nutrition reimbursements totaled approximately $60,000,000 last school year. Director Kirkman said the district is still modeling the exact budgetary impact and that some mitigation is possible by grouping schools for CEP calculations (an authorized option under CEP rules), but the district does not yet have a final figure for how many schools could retain CEP status after grouping.

Officials stressed administrative and operational effects beyond direct reimbursement figures. Dr. Shrozka Coleman, the district's chief operating officer, said the district could face added administrative costs and workload because, if more schools lose CEP status, staff would need to process many more FARMs applications and verify income for all applicants rather than a sampled percentage. \"There's also the added burden that's placed on our schools,\" Coleman said, describing increased outreach and verification work for families.

Committee members asked about timeline and fiscal-year impacts. District staff said the proposed changes would likely affect next school year but noted that federal or state guidance could alter timing. On current-year finances, officials said child nutrition has a separate fund balance and that the district has used fund balance to sustain operations through June but that the program could face a different situation in the next fiscal year if reimbursements decline.

Members also asked about summer meals. Kirkman explained the summer meals program is not directly tied to CEP eligibility: sites are selected based on area eligibility and FARMs percentages. If a site is not area-eligible, the district must operate a closed site with rosters and verify each child's meal status; paid students would require a separate contract for meals.

School board Chair Brandon Jackson, board member Dr. Felton Moss and other board members told the committee the board and administration are coordinating responses, meeting regularly with state delegation members in Annapolis and discussing potential state and local strategies to protect funding and preserve access for students.

Officials said they are also assessing nonstate revenue and partnerships to fill potential gaps, but staff cautioned that they are awaiting federal guidance and that much remains uncertain. \"This has made it very difficult to plan for the unknown,\" Dr. Coleman said, adding the district has a federal transition task force meeting weekly to track developments.

Committee members and board members discussed potential local responses, including grants, county-level appropriations and partnerships with community organizations. Board members and administration stressed readiness to collaborate with the council as guidance becomes available.

The district asked the council to consider the financial and administrative impacts as federal policy discussions continue; no formal council action or vote was taken at the March 24 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Prince George - Education and Workforce Development Committee - Mar 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Prince George's County Public Schools officials told the County Council Education & Workforce Development Committee on March 24 that proposed federal changes to Community Eligibility Provision eligibility and verification rules could remove CEP status from nearly 100 schools and affect an estimated 70,000 children, creating budget and operational strain for the district's child nutrition program.","taxTitle","Prince George's County, Maryland","taxId",3378,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6626401,"Council committee advances Amy Olivo nomination for District 4 school board seat",1027,109000,1136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753584-6b4f40c0716ce616cfd0448f53a84027&start=109&end=1136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753584-6b4f40c0716ce616cfd0448f53a84027/thumbnail_109000.jpg","/articles/6626401/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Council-committee-advances-Amy-Olivo-nomination-for-District-4-school-board-seat","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626401-76fa10c55f45ea5e277b0a1730790b8f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775444181&Signature=MPAzUZeuD1Ati7lGMnpCeSjscUBeYlHdx8WpgHTTnRPaeJmfrynqp-X70n~1gvem5oIo6I0l3R4hGDuIA2U-6Y2JltxkcPyk4m-yMVs3d-QdxtggKKbiede55yp8VPkLujb1i9kMsLZp6in3fzlKILEOPBPN2l-7KnxykYqwaC208GhzeoZ7QNkzZA6kWSUW85ceuUyf~SbLqqk0P44ysgDl7IYeB62WzC7GUr0PcgK3mK4VFjI0S4Z1fU3VeN4ZooPqAK9SaI-P~PBkvGzCDAxK3dHP2mmFImHCb-GVG7lCNW29rUkeU9BF2nBWdiQFZuygoHxomhewViJpWbsyeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Prince George's County Council Education & Workforce Development Committee on March 24 voted 4-0 to advance Acting County Executive Jackson's nominee, Amy Olivo, to fill the District 4 vacancy on the Prince George's County Board of Education without a recommendation, sending the appointment to the full council for consideration.

The committee moved to take no recommendation on the appointment so the entire council could debate the nomination. Council member Oriada made the motion and Vice Chair Watson seconded; Chair Harrison, Vice Chair Watson, Council member Hawkins and Council member Oriada recorded aye votes. \"Motion carries. 4 0,\" the clerk announced after the roll call.

Olivo, introduced by Mary Anne Brewer, appointment liaison for the Office of the Acting County Executive, described her background in county government and education advocacy. She said she has been a community advocate and a PGCPS parent for more than 17 years and highlighted local leadership roles, including serving as founding co-chair of Chevrolet Advocates for Public Schools and as PTA president at Gladys Newton Spellman Elementary School. Olivo told the committee she previously served 11 years on the Prince George's Community College Board of Trustees and worked eight years as chief of staff to a county council member.

\"One of the things that I absolutely see as a goal is increased parental involvement and engagement,\" Olivo said, describing steps she used in one school — offering childcare and dinner at PTA meetings and purchasing simultaneous-translation devices — that she said boosted participation.

Committee members asked Olivo about likely challenges in District 4 and about the school board's relationship with the superintendent. Olivo said national-level uncertainty about federal education policy and fiscal changes is a concern, and she emphasized local goals such as growing local families' enrollment in PGCPS and increasing parental engagement across District 4 schools. On governance, she said she understands that \"the Prince George's County Board of Education has one employee, and that is the superintendent,\" and she said she would pursue a \"strong and trusting relationship\" with the superintendent while deferring to the board chair to speak publicly for the board.

Council member Hawkins explained his aye vote and praised Olivo's prior county experience, and Council member Oriada said she had \"some reservations of the process\" and preferred to continue discussion at the full-council stage, but she also voted aye.

The committee's no-recommendation vote moves the nomination to the full County Council, where a confirmation vote will decide whether Olivo will fill the District 4 seat.

Supporters in the room included Dr. Charlene Dukes and Olivo's husband, Abel; Brewer noted the nomination followed a county application and interview process.

The council committee record shows the motion to advance without recommendation carried 4-0; the nomination will next appear on the full County Council agenda for final action.","The Education & Workforce Development Committee voted 4-0 to advance Acting County Executive Jackson's nominee, Amy Olivo, to the full County Council without a recommendation; committee members asked about her priorities including parental engagement, constituent services and the board–superintendent relationship.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6626390,"Library system reports rebound in visits and programs; staffing stretched amid budget holds",0,3798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2753584-6b4f40c0716ce616cfd0448f53a84027&start=3798&end=3798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2753584-6b4f40c0716ce616cfd0448f53a84027/thumbnail_3798000.jpg","/articles/6626390/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Library-system-reports-rebound-in-visits-and-programs-staffing-stretched-amid-budget-holds","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626390-99d99e06c2acb66fe69067c3e48a5c5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775444181&Signature=bNIhWfO3IEfMmnQMrecjdKYx-DLWdk1DEtzjprtypP6nft6UlgEX8iZqyuu6XUgnfkzF6Ape9hsG-cYoCO88~tIFEAFYA~4iurYB0uE3c~7PGiCEd1Ug~RDgFwAI1jG9BRM9YwZBQ72wzXlYtpOUYv9R08ZE1z80xXRsr7EfCvxBg872lo5zvp~Yt0ILNu2XE74hINIZBsCqv9yooSFaVkoOh9F0eMXJSbeQMI9ZMF~x2EwJ8dyPUqZIBp6tdTHqiAr8pFoojV1wCZCVnKMDIi0pLgVdKcN61C-wkd1mCHKUC9rNxsxRiBsWYFcyqnlvYw9Sbd20md6pHl6X4sm8kg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Prince George's County Memorial Library System told the County Council Education & Workforce Development Committee on March 24 that systemwide visits and program attendance rose in calendar year 2024, but library leadership warned that staffing constraints and budget-held positions are limiting service capacity.

A County staff presentation of the 2024 performance report showed more than 1,500,000 total library visitors countywide in 2024 and systemwide increases in registered cardholders and program attendance. Presenters highlighted several branches with strong rebounds or gains after renovation: Surratt-Clinton reopened in 2024 and recorded roughly 50,000 visitors in its first year back; Bladensburg's expanded facility saw visits rise from about 7,600 in 2023 to roughly 73,000 in 2024; and the Bowie branch added significant teen programming and recorded a large attendance increase after a local grant.

Director-level presenters noted that programs are both in person and online and that one high-attendance online event in 2020 — an author conversation with Ibram X. Kendi — produced an outlier in attendance figures for that year. The report also described materials circulation, reference queries and public-computer and Wi‑Fi use; circulation showed signs of plateauing while other measures increased.

Library CEO Winston and staff told the committee the system is managing the rebound with reduced staffing: the report and testimony referenced 25 to 28 vacant or held positions because of the FY25 budget situation. \"We are stretched,\" Winston said, noting small branches such as Mount Rainier and Baden operate with very small staffs yet high community demand. Committee members asked about measuring unique visitors versus visits (door counts can register repeat visits by the same person) and about potential partnerships with nonprofits and colocated services.

Winston and Committee Director Adena Veer said the library is open to piloting partnerships with community organizations — examples already include tax-preparation help and youth-readiness programs — and the library plans to include strategic-planning goals and new metrics in next year's report.

The report also highlighted the library's early-childhood outreach program, Books From Birth, which gives one free book per month to registered families from a child's birth through age 5; the library celebrated distributing its 1 millionth book in December 2024. Library staff told the committee they will continue to refine performance metrics and asked council members to suggest additional indicators they would like to see in future reports.

Committee members thanked library staff and asked for budget impact details when the library returns during budget hearings; library officials said they will provide further information when they appear before the council during the budget process.","Prince George's County Memorial Library System reported 1.5 million visitors and rising program attendance in calendar year 2024 but said staffing constraints and a number of frozen positions are stretching operations; several renovated branches saw large increases in visits and program participation.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County school leaders warn federal changes could shrink free-meal coverage under CEP

Council committee advances Amy Olivo nomination for District 4 school board seat

Library system reports rebound in visits and programs; staffing stretched amid budget holds