Residents and students urge Bethlehem Area School District to expand free-lunch pilot

At its April 27 meeting, the Bethlehem Area School District board heard multiple public appeals to expand a free-school-lunch pilot under the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).

Sebastian Zaverka told the board a family example in which one child was auto-enrolled but a friend was not and ‘‘racked up over $800 worth of debt’’ for school lunches, and urged the district to maximize participation in CEP to avoid similar hardship. Louise Torres, a 32-year veteran high-school teacher who said she is now retired, said hungry students cannot learn and urged the board to support any program that reduces barriers to learning.

Samantha Samayoa thanked the board for its willingness to pilot CEP, saying the move ‘‘shows commitment to our children’’ and reduces stigma. Michael Baylor described the idea of a universal lunch program as a matter of dignity and urged either districtwide adoption or a pilot to test the model locally. A parent who identified herself as Susan, who runs a CEP program at a small charter middle school, said her program is ‘‘in the black’’ and recommended the district review vendor receipts and talk with food-service staff to understand practical impacts.

A district staff member who spoke to the board said that, based on state CEP data, the district could enroll 14 schools at a 100% reimbursement rate and encouraged the board to pursue enrollment as broadly as feasible. That speaker also addressed concerns that enrolling in CEP can change how Title I funds are reported, noting local districts have navigated that reporting shift successfully.

Board members responded largely with appreciation for the testimony. During open forum, board member Missus Levy praised community advocacy and encouraged participants to consider broader state-level solutions that support universal meals at scale. Another board member echoed Levy’s call for continued advocacy beyond the district.

The meeting did not record a formal board vote on a CEP expansion at this session. Speakers asked the board to prioritize student wellbeing, to minimize paperwork and stigma, and to consider pilot designs that preserve key funding streams. The board has previously signaled willingness to pilot CEP; residents asked the board to include as many schools as feasible in any pilot, including full-enrollment options where reimbursement allows.

Next steps were not finalized in the meeting minutes: speakers requested the board examine vendor receipts, consult food-service workers, and review financial modeling before deciding on the scope of any pilot or enrollment plan. The meeting adjourned without a recorded CEP decision.