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Beatrice board declines Community Eligibility Program for 2024–25, citing district cost
Summary
After a detailed presentation on eligibility and cost, the Beatrice Public Schools Board voted not to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision for the 2024–25 school year, citing projected general‑fund costs if PK–12 were covered.
The Beatrice Public Schools Board of Education voted to not participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2024–25 school year after reviewing eligibility figures and projected costs.
Dr. Nelson presented the CEP analysis, explaining how CEP uses direct certification (students qualifying through SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, foster care, Head Start, homelessness or migrant/runaway status) to determine a district’s claiming percentage. "Participating schools are guaranteed to receive the same free claiming percentage for 4 years," she said, and described which Beatrice schools currently qualify: preschool, Lincoln, Stoddard, Paddock and the middle school. The high school fell short of the usual 40% threshold for districtwide adoption, with a reported 34.29% direct-certified rate.
Board members focused on the budget impact. Dr. Nelson outlined district cost scenarios: covering the five qualifying buildings was projected at about $15,335.44 per month, or $153,354.40 per year; extending coverage to grades PK–12 raised the estimate to the mid‑hundreds of thousands, with transcript figures shown at about $512,114.10 for PK–12 depending on assumptions. When asked whether she would recommend participation, Dr. Nelson said, "At this point, I would say that my recommendation would be not to participate if we are going to look at PK–12 just because ... [the cost is] a lot of money."
Board members pressed for further analysis if costs dropped. One board member asked that administration return with updated numbers if the district’s estimated share dropped toward "$100,000" so the board could reconsider. The board also confirmed the state enrollment/commitment deadline of June 30.
A motion that "the Board of Education District 15 not participate in the Community Eligibility Program for the 2024–25 school year" was moved, seconded and approved.
The decision leaves the district’s current free-and-reduced application process in place. Dr. Nelson and administration said they would provide updated numbers to the board before the enrollment deadline and continue to work with community organizations that have been donating to support students with meal debt.
Next steps: administration will include updated CEP calculations in a superintendent update ahead of the June 30 deadline.
