Cafeteria posts September surplus; trustees discuss possible Community Eligibility changes

Mister Bondi, a food-service staff member for the Wallingford School District, presented the cafeteria summary report and participation numbers during the operations meeting.

Bondi said the food service program served 45 days (including 23 summer days in July and August) and posted a September surplus of $14,801 after a summer loss of $9,209.63. He reviewed participation by level: elementary breakfast 19.2% and lunch 41.4%; middle-school breakfast 6.9% and lunch 50.7%; high-school breakfast 6.3% and lunch 44.1%; overall breakfast participation 12.7% and lunch 44.2%.

Board member Versace asked about the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and how possible federal policy changes could affect the district. Bondi explained the CEP allows a school where more than 25% of students qualify for free meals to make the entire school eligible for free meals; he said the current administration is discussing raising that threshold back toward 40% and possibly higher. "I have no doubt that it probably will go up in the next year or so," Bondi said, and he noted changes to other benefit programs could also affect food insecurity.

Trustees asked staff to keep eligibility changes on the district’s radar and consider set-asides or safeguards to help families if federal policy changes increase hunger or participation demands.

ending: Food-service staff will continue monitoring policy changes and participation trends; trustees asked staff to include CEP developments in future planning.