School division to end countywide Community Eligibility Provision after fund shortfall; board urged to retain contingency funding

Gloucester County Public Schools told the Board of Supervisors on July 8 it will return from the districtwide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) to the traditional application‑based meal model because the district’s food service fund reserves are too low to sustain universal free meals.

Superintendent Kevin Vladeck and food service director Lydia (last name on file) told supervisors that CEP — which removed meal charges for all students in participating schools by relying on a formula tied to free‑and‑reduced percentages — left the district with a continuing shortfall because Gloucester’s qualifying percentage (about 40 percent free/reduced) does not generate full federal reimbursement for every meal. Staff said roughly 31 percent of meal costs were not covered under CEP in the most recent full year.

The division said it initially participated in CEP on a trial basis and expanded coverage; it urged families to file applications when the district reverts to the application model. Applications will be available Aug. 15 and the district will treat students as eligible through the first 30 school days while applications are processed. Director Lydia said the division will conduct broad outreach — including paper applications, web posting and community distribution points — and will process applications promptly; students will not be denied meals while status is pending.

Supervisors previously set aside $450,000 to help the schools continue CEP; school leaders thanked the board for that allocation but said audit‑period balances and experience with a la carte sales (snack and extra entree purchases) showed the allocation would not fully cover the shortfall. The schools reported a drop of about $150,000 in a la carte revenue after CEP expansion because students who previously bought extras took the free reimbursable meal instead.

School officials said the division will continue federally subsidized summer meal and direct‑certification programs that identify families enrolled in SNAP, Medicaid or other qualifying programs. They also said the division will accept direct‑certified names from social services throughout the year so qualifying families will be automatically eligible for free meals without an application.

Board members and some members of the public urged the supervisors to keep the $450,000 contingency in the school food account to avoid forcing the schools to run a deficit while the new application model is implemented. The superintendent said the division will provide regular updates on meal fund balances and unpaid meal account trends and that staff would continue efforts to reduce food costs and improve operational efficiency.

The board did not take a final funding vote during the meeting but members discussed keeping the contingency available and scheduled follow‑up communications with school staff.