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Salisbury schools qualify to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students for four years
Summary
District staff announced the district qualified for the Community Eligibility Provision; beginning next school year all students will receive free breakfast and lunch for four years and the district will be reimbursed by the state per meal.
District staff informed the board that Salisbury Township School District qualified for the Community Eligibility Provision, which will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students during the regular school year for four years.
A district staff member explained how funding works: the district records meals served and submits claims, and the state reimburses at the free‑student rate. “We submit how many lunches that we've served and then we get the rate per lunch reimbursed to us,” the staff member said, noting families with existing lunch-account balances can request reimbursements or have those funds applied to a la carte items that are not covered by the program.
Why it matters: The change removes meal charges for students during the school year and may increase participation in school meals; administrators said the district will post details online and send letters to families with enrollment and contact information for the food-service director and social-worker for additional support.
Implementation notes: Staff said the program is funded via state reimbursement and does not require additional local appropriation. The district will publicize the change and provide guidance about a la carte purchases and refunds for pre‑existing lunch-account balances.
(Attributions: explanation and Q&A from district staff during the secretary’s report.)
