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Board unanimously approves four-year renewal of school meal program that provides free breakfast and lunch
Summary
The Kershaw County School Board voted unanimously May 5 to approve staff’s recommendation to submit a Community Eligibility Program renewal application that would provide free breakfast and lunch for all students for four more years.
The Kershaw County School Board unanimously approved a recommendation May 5 to renew the district’s Community Eligibility Program (CEP), securing free breakfast and lunch for all students for the next four-year cycle if the application is accepted.
A board member presenting the item reviewed the district’s CEP calculations dating to 2022 and explained how the federal calculation (which uses poverty indicators plus a multiplying factor) determines district eligibility. The presenter said the district’s April 1 calculation left the participation percentage high enough to sustain the program through 06/30/2031 (a four-year renewal if accepted) and asked the board to allow staff to complete the renewal application.
A motion to accept the administration’s recommendation was made by Dr. King and seconded by Mr. Cameron; the motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.
Why it matters: CEP allows eligible districts to provide universal free meals without collecting household applications, simplifying meal service and removing barriers to food access. The district’s continued eligibility affects meal access for all students and budget planning for cafeterias and nutrition services.
What’s next: Staff will complete and submit the renewal application as authorized by the board; the memo provided to trustees included the district’s multi-year calculations and the April 1 percentage used for the upcoming certification.
