Food service staff told the board they intend to revise the unpaid‑meals policy to apply districtwide — reflecting the district’s expanded pre‑K program — and to change the billing cadence from monthly to quarterly because unpaid balances have declined.

"Instead of doing this monthly, which incurs a fair amount of manpower... just doing it quarterly," a food service presenter said, characterizing the change as a first reading; the item will return next month for a second reading and potential adoption. There was no board vote on the policy at this meeting.

Separately, administrators briefed the board on changes to the long‑standing state teacher appreciation payment. Officials said the state has replaced the prior automatic stipend program with a competitive grant. The district previously received roughly $200,000 under the old program in recent years; under the new rules, a district cannot submit applications for more than 20 percent of its teachers and grant award categories include higher‑value but more limited awards (administrators cited a $7,500 award category among others).

District staff said guidance from the state education agency is expected by Sept. 1 and that the board will be asked to adopt a policy or application process after the agency issues instructions. Board members praised food‑service staff and community efforts that reduced unpaid meal balances.