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Board discontinues districtwide free‑meals program after multi‑hundred‑thousand dollar loss; forecast shows tighter finances
Summary
After reporting a roughly $400,000 shortfall this year running the districtwide Community Eligibility Provision, Wooster trustees voted to discontinue the program for 2026–27 as the treasurer presented an updated forecast and a $23 million transfer into the general fund.
The Wooster City Schools board voted May 19 to discontinue the districtwide Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2026–27 school year after administrators reported substantial losses on the food‑service program this year.
Financial picture: The district treasurer presented an updated May forecast reflecting a $23 million transfer from the capital projects fund into the general fund (an action approved at a prior meeting) and explained the district’s cash balance and multi‑year outlook. Administrators said the CEP produced higher participation but created a net food‑service loss on the order of several hundred thousand dollars this year (administrators cited approximately $400,000). Because the food‑service reserve had previously accumulated surpluses, the immediate general fund was not endangered, but leaders said continuing the CEP would be fiscally imprudent given the district’s flat revenues and rising costs.
Policy decision and next steps: The board approved treasurer requests to revise the FY26 permanent appropriation and other routine financial measures (appropriations, grant funds, and contracts) required to maintain operations and legal spending authority through year‑end. Administrators also described options for short‑term financing tied to modular procurement and site work, and said they will continue to refine forecasts and return to the board with staffing and program details for next school year.
What families should expect: If the CEP is discontinued, families who qualify for free or reduced lunches must submit applications to receive benefits. Administrators said they will pursue targeted outreach to families who may be eligible and will take steps to make application processes clear and to minimize any interruption to student meals during the transition.
Context: The CEP trial was part of a national trend of districts experimenting with universal meals to increase participation and reduce stigma. In Wooster’s case, higher participation did not offset the reimbursement and program costs under current funding conditions, prompting the recommendation to return to the prior system while the district stabilizes finances.
