Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cafeteria Lines Cep topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears that lunch lines at elementary schools are taking 15–20 minutes; district says Community Eligibility Provision likely to continue
Summary
An assistant superintendent reported students at Claremont are moving through lunch lines in 15–20 minutes, which reduces recess time for some; administrators said the district’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) remains likely and officials are exploring kiosks and preordering options.
The board was told students in some elementary lunch periods are waiting 15–20 minutes to be served, a pace that reduces net recess time and has prompted follow-up work.
Alita (assistant superintendent for business) reported her visit to Albert Leonard Middle (AMD) and Claremont and said the sandwich line in particular creates the wait because some students choose made-to-order sandwiches. “Students are typically moving through the lunch line in 15 to 20 minutes, which provides up to 20 minutes outside,” Alita said, and described that the sandwich line showed the most wait. She said one principal’s goal is to ensure children have 15–20 minutes outside after lunch.
Alita told the board roughly 300–350 students constitute a lunch period for an entire grade level; the district’s average daily participation increased after the district moved to CEP, she said. The board discussed options including an additional sandwich line, kiosks and a vendor-provided pre-ordering app. Alita said a kiosk would require staffing and a review of fund balance before it could be implemented.
On CEP, Alita said consultants who work with the district and the USDA indicated it is “very unlikely” the district would lose CEP eligibility for 2025–26. She said CEP normally lasts four years and the consultants recommended reapplying to extend grandfathered eligibility even if district thresholds remain unchanged.
Nut graf: Administrators are balancing equity and logistics: CEP expands free meal access and has raised participation, but longer lines for made-to-order items are reducing students’ outdoor time. The board asked staff to investigate operational fixes and technology options for ordering and to return with cost and staffing implications.
Board members pressed specifics. One board member noted that a 41–42 minute lunch period leaves net outside time limited if students wait 15–20 minutes and then take 10 minutes to eat. Alita said she will check fund balance and the vendor’s capability to pilot a kiosk; another board member asked administration to research whether the vendor or other districts use pre-ordering apps.
Ending: Administration said it will return with follow-up details on a possible additional line or kiosk, fund-balance implications, and any pilot options for preordering through the food-service vendor.
