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Shippensburg board weighs expanding free-meal program to two more schools
Summary
District officials proposed adding Nancy Grayson Elementary and the intermediate school to the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), citing rising lunch debt and simplified meal administration; food-service contractor Chartwells projected a conservative $66,000 deficit but said break-even is possible.
Shippensburg Area School District administrators told the budget and finance committee on April 13 that they want to expand the federal Community Eligibility Provision — which allows qualifying high-poverty schools to serve free breakfast and lunch to all students — to Nancy Grayson Elementary and the district's intermediate school beginning in 2026'27.
Mr. Barwin, who presented the proposal, said the district piloted CEP at James Bird Elementary in 2024'25 and that Chartwells, the district's food-service manager, recommends adding the two schools. Chartwells projected a conservative $66,000 deficit if both schools join, but Barwin and Chartwells stressed the estimate is cautious and that the program could break even or generate a small surplus.
The proposal was framed in part as a tool to halt the district's growing lunch debt. "Our lunch debt has grown from $63,000 in 2022'23 to a little over $180,000," Barwin said, and he argued that moving schools onto CEP would stop that growth at those campuses while reducing paperwork and improving participation.
Board members asked for details. Barwin said the $180,520 figure is districtwide; Nancy Grayson's current unpaid balance is roughly $19,703 and the intermediate school about $20,000 (about $40,000 combined). He also confirmed modest student-price increases already planned for next year: elementary lunch rising roughly $0.10 (from $3.10 to $3.20) and adult lunch +$0.25.
Members who spoke generally favored a phased approach over enrolling every district school at once. One board member urged pairing the initiative with local procurement options, citing a Pennsylvania Farm to School Network program to increase fresh local produce in meals.
Administration said the item is on the board's discussion agenda and will be presented as an action item at the April 27 meeting, allowing full board consideration before any formal change.
Why it matters: Expanding CEP could reduce unpaid meal debt and increase participation but affects food-service contracts and the food-service budget. The board will decide whether the projected costs and operational benefits justify expansion districtwide or in a phased approach.
