Crosby ISD cuts meal charge limit, will serve alternative low‑cost meal after four unpaid meals

The Crosby ISD Board on May 18 approved a revision to CFO local (food and nutrition management) that shortens the district’s unpaid-meal courtesy threshold and establishes an alternative meal option for students with exhausted balances.

Nutrition staff reported the district had served about 913,000 meals as of May 1 and carried unpaid balances of $183,822.50 this school year. Under the newly approved policy, a student with an insufficient balance may continue to purchase meals for up to two school days (four meals). After that threshold, the student will receive a lowest-cost reimbursable alternative meal; staff proposed cereal and milk as the alternate to avoid singling out students while encouraging parents to address account balances.

Mitchell, who presented the update, said the change is intended to curb rising unpaid balances, which the nutrition department has been covering at year end. Trustees debated compassion and parental responsibility, noting that free and reduced students were served free this year via a TDA waiver. Trustees asked staff to confirm whether the alternative meal would be charged $1.25 (breakfast) / $2.00 (lunch) or uniformly charged; staff said they would clarify pricing and provide an update to the board and in district communications.

Trustee Chapman moved the revision (amended language: up to two school days/4 meals, then alternative meal charged at the lowest reimbursable rate), Trustee Lewis seconded, and the motion carried 6–1. Trustees said administrators will monitor students repeatedly receiving the alternative meal and work with campus staff to address persistent account issues.

The board directed staff to return with any necessary language clarifications and to publish guidance (including how families can apply for free/reduced benefits) in the district’s newsletter and communications.