Waddell board approves applying for Community Eligibility Provision to pilot free school meals

The Waddell Board of Education voted at its meeting to apply for a one-year pilot of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) through the Ohio Department of Education that would provide free breakfast and lunch to all district students.

Board President said the program “seems like it’s gonna fit” for the district and moved the item; the board approved the application by roll call. Robert Wolf, interim superintendent, described the application as a pilot that — if approved — would supply both breakfast and lunch to every student regardless of family income.

The policy matters because CEP allows high-poverty schools and districts to serve all students at no charge using federal reimbursements and direct certification data, rather than collecting individual meal applications. The elementary principal noted CEP’s mechanics are still income-based for certification but produce universal access in practice through direct certification.

The board’s approval authorizes administration to submit the pilot application to state authorities and to pursue related operational planning. No final program start date was announced; the district said the initiative is pending the state’s approval of the pilot.

What happens next: administration will complete the CEP application and await approval from the Ohio Department of Education before changing meal operations for the coming school year.