St. Tammany school leaders debate paying $2.5M to keep universal free meals under CEP

The St. Tammany Parish School Board committee heard detailed budget and programing information about the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) during a lengthy discussion that centered on whether the district should continue offering universal free meals next school year.

Miss Hart, who presented the district analysis, told the committee that the state'provided identified student percentage (ISP) used to compute CEP reimbursement declined from 40.41% to 38.67%. "After some comparison data and the April population data that comes from the state, we found that there's been a change in the identified student percentage," Hart said. She gave a district projection that continuing CEP for 2025'—26 would require a local contribution of roughly $2,500,000.

The nut of the debate was the tradeoff between continuing to feed every student at no charge and the budgetary impact to the district. "If we vote yes, then we're voting for the status quo. If we vote no, we're voting to go back to the old way," said Mr. Green as board members questioned how a committee vote would affect next week's full-board decision. Superintendent Jabbia and staff clarified that the committee vote moves the matter to the full board but does not itself finalize districtwide policy.

Board members and staff described the mechanics and consequences in detail. The district said USDA rules fix reduced-price amounts (30 cents for breakfast, 40 cents for lunch) and that paid meal reimbursements are much lower (about $0.53 per paid meal under current rates). Miss Hart and school food service staff explained proposed prices for paid meals if the district returns to traditional claiming: $1.25 for breakfast (paid), $1.75 for K'6 lunch and $2.00 for grades 7'2; reduced prices remain set by USDA.

Food service and finance staff laid out how CEP affects revenue and expenses. Miss Prevost (finance) and the food service director said the district currently subsidizes the food program from the general fund. The presenters said food service received roughly $14.9 million in federal reimbursement last year and is projected near $14.8 million next year; the drop in ISP shifts more students to the paid category and reduces higher free reimbursement rates, creating a local gap. Staff said food service has been carried in recent years by a $2 million fund balance that will be exhausted, and that continuing CEP at current ISP would require an additional district contribution in the low millions (staff projected an approximate $900,000 incremental gap tied to the ISP change and, more broadly, a potential need to fund food service at roughly $13.4 million from the general fund next year if current trends continue).

Board members pressed on alternatives to paying the gap, including stepped-up outreach to get families to complete income-eligibility applications, making computers and assistance available at school enrollment and community events, and local donation or sponsorship efforts. "If we can get more forms filled out before the school year starts, perhaps we narrow the fiscal gap," said Dr. Peterson, urging better outreach. Food service staff said an online portal (MyPaymentsPlus) exists and that paper applications would still be available so families lacking internet access are not barred.

Several board members framed the question as both fiscal and moral. "I don't know of a taxpayer in St. Tammany that would say don't feed the kids," said Mr. Cousin. Others emphasized the strain on the general fund and potential tradeoffs with raises and other obligations.

Action: The committee recorded a motion to move the CEP matter forward to the full board (mover: Miss Fauntleroy; second: Miss Baker). The committee vote on that referral was recorded as 5 yeas, 6 nays and 1 abstention; staff advised the committee that the item will appear before the full board next week for an up-or-down decision.

Ending: The committee did not adopt a final policy change; instead members heard staff analysis, asked for additional historical breakdowns (by grade band and school), and set the issue for a full-board vote in the next meeting. Staff noted a hard deadline for the district to opt in or out of CEP is June 30 and said they would provide requested historical free/reduced counts and additional cost detail before the board meeting.