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Policy on universal school meals moved for first reading amid CEP clarifications
Summary
The policy subcommittee advanced an updated EFC policy for first reading that incorporates MASC language and clarifies the district’s Community Eligibility Provision status and use of a supplemental low-income form in lieu of traditional free/reduced applications.
The North Middlesex Regional School District policy subcommittee voted to move an updated EFC policy on universal and free school meals forward for a first reading, after agreeing to align district language with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC) model and to clarify how the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) affects applications.
Committee members and staff reviewed the district’s existing EFC wording against the newest MASC draft and identified small semantic differences. Staff explained that the district currently participates in CEP, meaning it does not collect standard free and reduced-price meal applications; instead, families who are not directly certified by the state can complete a supplemental low‑income worksheet that the district can use for reporting and potential Chapter 70 funding adjustments.
Subcommittee discussion also covered district snack arrangements: an outside nonprofit (TEO) has been supplying snacks, and the district now works with its food-service vendor to order compliant items and be reimbursed for those snacks. Members agreed to retain a final paragraph directing families to the district website for CEP information and to reference the supplemental form in place of the traditional application where applicable.
On the motion to move EFC for a first reading, the committee approved the motion by voice vote; Lisa and Jackie were recorded as voting in favor and the motion passed. The policy will be reformatted, have legal references updated to match the MASC citations, and return for further consideration after the first reading.
Next steps: staff will replace the district’s existing legal citations with the MASC references, tidy formatting, and bring the revised document back for the first-reading process before the full school committee.
