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Lockwood board votes to end universal free-meal program, sets meal prices for 2026–27
Summary
Faced with rising food costs and a widening lunch-fund deficit, the Lockwood School Board voted to end the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) and set student breakfast at $3.75 and lunch at $4.10 for 2026–27; administrators said continuing CEP would cost the district roughly $34,000 per month.
The Lockwood School Board voted to end the districtwide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for school meals and approved new meal prices for the 2026–27 school year, citing mounting costs and insufficient federal reimbursement.
Superintendent Don Christian told the board that continuing CEP would create an unsustainable monthly deficit. “At this point right now, if they continue, it's gonna cost the district $34,000 a month next year to continue to provide free breakfast and lunch for everybody,” he said during the board meeting. District staff presented a financial model showing a districtwide deficit of about $34,000 per month under CEP; one scenario that would keep K–8 on CEP while the high school pays was estimated to produce a roughly $25,111 monthly deficit and a $9,308 estimate for a high-school-only deficit in another model.
The district’s lunch fund had been drawn down over recent years; staff reported a beginning balance near $342,000 that has been largely exhausted. “Last year, we paid $208,000,” administration said when summarizing recent costs and reimbursements, and noted reimbursements fall well short of actual meal costs.
After discussion and public questions about how unpaid balances and eligible students would be handled, the board approved ending CEP and set meal prices for 2026–27: student breakfast $3.75, student lunch $4.10; adult breakfast $4.00, adult lunch $5.75. The motion passed by voice vote.
Administrators said core safety nets remain: students who arrive without money will be fed and existing direct-certifications (for families automatically eligible via SNAP and similar programs) will continue to receive free meals. Board members and staff also emphasized plans to distribute and help families complete free-and-reduced-lunch applications over the summer so eligible households can be certified.
District staff said the change does not affect the summer feeding program, which remains free. A representative from the district’s contracted food service provider is scheduled to brief the board at a later meeting, and the board left open the possibility of revisiting meal prices if reimbursement data or vendor proposals change.
What’s next: the board’s action means the district will return to building-level eligibility and charge for meals where families do not qualify; staff said they will run outreach to increase free-and-reduced applications and report back with any needed adjustments to pricing or program management.
