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Parents and teachers urge free meals as Sheldon ISD approves small lunch price increase, vote 6—
Summary
After public comment urging free meals, the Sheldon ISD board approved a modest increase in above-meal prices for 2026'7; child nutrition staff cited TDA reserve guidance and a $2.4 million fund balance in explaining the increase.
The Sheldon ISD Board approved an increase to paid lunch prices for the 2026'7 school year after a public discussion in which parents and teachers urged the district to provide free lunch to all students.
Public speakers pressed the board to adopt universal free meals. Christopher Hunter, a former district employee and AFT board member, appealed to trustees to consider student impacts when setting prices: "Every vote cast here tonight will communicate something far greater than the cost of just a school lunch." Elizabeth West, a teacher of nearly 30 years, asked trustees to approve free breakfast and lunch "for every child regardless of family income," arguing that universal meals remove stigma and help learning.
Board members asked child nutrition staff to explain the proposed price increases and the status of the child nutrition fund. Miss Vasser, who led the department presentation, explained that the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) requires districts to hold a multi-month reserve for daily operations and that the allowable reserve window had been extended from three to six months. She said the department is planning equipment replacements and other predictable uses for the $2.4 million child nutrition fund balance and that the district had not increased prices since 2019'0.
On the mechanics, staff said the district remains below market compared with neighboring districts and that the proposed increase (a 15-cent increase per grade level as part of the computation) was constrained by longstanding TDA pricing and lunch-equity rules. Staff and trustees also explained eligibility requirements for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), noting the district does not meet the direct-certification threshold (about 65% of students) and is roughly 10 percentage points below that standard, which complicates a straightforward move to universal free meals without fiscal consequences.
The motion to approve the above-meal price increase passed with a recorded result of six votes in favor and one opposed.
