Grand Island schools say CEP raised participation and reimbursement but warn nutrition fund faces rising costs

At its July 10, 2025, meeting, the Grand Island Public Schools Board of Education heard that the district's shift to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) increased meal participation and federal and state reimbursements, but that rising food and personnel costs have created a structural imbalance in the district's nutrition services fund.

The presentation, given during the information item on CEP for the 2024–25 school year, outlined three full prior years of fund activity and projections for the current fiscal year. District finance staff reported the nutrition fund has paid off its debt but has drawn down cash reserves over the last full fiscal year because expenditures — primarily food and payroll — rose faster than revenues despite higher CEP reimbursements.

Board members were told the fund started the 2023–24 year with roughly $3.2 million, recorded about $6.4 million in revenue and $7.7 million in expenses, and ended that year at just under $2.0…