Committee forwards meal‑policy updates, reintroduces Community Eligibility Provision language

The School Committee moved revised meal policies to the full school committee for first reading, including a renamed policy reflecting universal free school meals (EFC) and an updated meal‑charge policy (EFCD). Committee members said the district qualified for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) after federal threshold changes and that CEP affects how federal reimbursements are handled even though families may still complete forms used for other district fee reductions. Members discussed operational details in EFCD including account management, MySchoolBox online payments, continuing weekly negative-balance reports, and limits on a la carte purchases. The committee confirmed the district still accepts cash, check or the online payment system for extra or a la carte purchases and that principals, assistant principals and guidance counselors contact families when accounts have negative balances. Members removed language that would have barred students from fee-based programs as a penalty for unpaid meal charges, saying they preferred other restrictions such as limiting a la carte purchases. The committee also asked staff to clarify the specific form name used for families not automatically enrolled under CEP and accepted a cross-reference to federal civil-rights complaint policy language. The revised meal policies will go to the full school committee for first reading and further refinement.