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Mayoral candidate urges district to adopt CEP for free meals, raises bus seat-belt concerns
Summary
Isaac Greenwood, a candidate for county mayor, urged the board to consider the federal Community Eligibility Provision to provide free meals for all students and estimated a district cost "between 3.4 and $4 million annually," and also raised concerns about seat belts on buses during the budget hearing.
Isaac Greenwood, who identified himself as a candidate for county mayor, spoke during the public hearing on the proposed 2026–2027 Consolidated Budget and urged the Clarksville Montgomery County School Board to investigate the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a federal option to provide free school meals to all students.
"The CEP program... functionally is a way to get free school meals for all kids in the county," Greenwood said. He described the federal calculation as taking the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, multiplying it by 1.6, and said that structure would mean the county would cover only the remaining share. Greenwood gave an estimated local cost "between 3.4 and $4 million annually," and said that amount is "less than 1% of our annual school board budget." He asked whether the board had discussed or considered CEP and what barriers might exist.
Greenwood also raised bus safety concerns, noting risks if children are not properly secured in a crash. He framed the question as a budget concern and a student-safety issue but did not request a specific action or policy change during the hearing.
Board members did not provide an immediate decision on CEP or bus-seat requirements in the public hearing; Greenwood's remarks were recorded and no formal motion or vote followed during the session.
