Brown Deer board approves one-year trial of federal free-meal program amid budget concerns

The Brown Deer School District Board voted unanimously June 23 to adopt the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for the 2026–27 school year on a one-year trial basis, pending federal approval.

Administration recommended CEP after the Department of Public Instruction identified the district as eligible; administration said the district’s direct-certification rate combined to 43.55%, above the commonly used threshold. Business office staff cautioned the switch to CEP will change federal reimbursements and eliminate some student-paid and reduced-price revenue, estimating a potential net local and federal revenue reduction in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"Using the price estimator tool from DPI, we anticipate a revenue loss of about $5,100 per month, or about $50,000 roughly for the launch program," the business office representative said, and added that the district could lose roughly $308,000 in local lunch revenue when federal changes and local payers are included. The administration also estimated a modest loss to the breakfast program and noted some food-service utility-accounting changes that may be required if the district moves costs between funds.

Board members framed their debate around two competing priorities: reducing student meal debt and hunger, and the district’s fragile finances. One trustee pointed to cumulative unpaid food-service balances of about $150,000 and argued CEP would eliminate large negative family account balances; others warned that a one-year federal policy change could leave families suddenly required to pay again midyear.

The board resolved those trade-offs by approving CEP as a one-year trial and directing staff to craft communications explaining that the vote is a temporary measure and that any federal changes could require a return to paid meals. Chair (the presiding officer) summarized the outcome: "So we will try this program out for one year," and the board recorded the motion as carried 6–0.

Administration said the CEP paperwork must be submitted by June 30 and recommended targeted outreach to families and the community; officials also discussed using the district website, social media and the village newsletter to share the details and to advertise open summer-lunch sites.

What happens next: the district will submit CEP paperwork to DPI, begin local messaging about the one-year trial and monitor federal guidance closely. The board emphasized the adoption is conditional on federal rules and that the district will revisit the decision if funding or program rules change.