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Board approves school-lunch price increase, abstinence-only supplemental resource and ratifies unit 1 career-ladder amendments
Summary
The Garrett County Board of Education on May 13 voted to raise the full-price student lunch by 15¢ for next school year as a contingency if a federal meal program application fails, approved an abstinence-only supplemental health resource, and ratified amendments to the FY26 negotiated agreement with the Garrett County Education Association Unit 1.
The Garrett County Board of Education on May 13 voted on several items after brief discussion and public comment.
The board approved a proposal to raise the full-price student lunch by 15 cents beginning next school year. The superintendent said the district is applying for the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) that would make meals free to all enrolled students if approved; the increase is a backstop if that application is unsuccessful. Board members asked whether breakfasts would remain free (the superintendent confirmed they would) and were told that about 59% of students are currently directly certified for free/reduced benefits.
The board also adopted “Promoting Health Among Teens: Abstinence-Only Intervention” as a supplemental resource to the high school health curriculum after discussion about opt-out provisions. The superintendent characterized the material as supplemental and recommended adoption; the motion passed by a 3–1 recorded vote.
Separately, the board approved an amended FY26 negotiated agreement with the Garrett County Education Association (GCEA) Unit 1 addressing duty-day language and career-ladder salary enhancements (including provisions for Level 4 and Level 2B). The board authorized execution of a memorandum of understanding to incorporate the ratified amendments.
Procedural items including adoption of the meeting agenda and the consent agenda were approved earlier in the meeting.
Votes at a glance - Full-price lunch increase (15¢): approved (motion moved and seconded; tally not specified in the transcript). The superintendent said the district would pursue CEP first; the increase serves as a contingency. - Promoting Health Among Teens — Abstinence-Only Intervention (supplemental resource): approved, 3–1. - Ratification of GCEA Unit 1 amendments to FY26 negotiated agreement and authorization to execute related MOU: approved (vote recorded as carried). - Agenda adoption and consent agenda: both approved at the start of the meeting.
The meeting record shows each of these motions was made on the floor and voted on during the open session. Several other items on the agenda were first reads or informational (student handbook first read, educational facilities master plan first read, multiple policy first reads).
