Augusta County board approves hybrid school-meal plan, charges return for secondary students

The Augusta County School Board voted to approve a new school nutrition budget plan that keeps free breakfast and lunch for elementary students while restoring charges for secondary students.

Division nutrition staff described multi-year revenue shortfalls and rising costs during the board’s May meeting. The presenter said the division serves roughly 10,000 students in 19 schools and reported that total clinic visits across the division were 128,217 (this figure came as part of broader staff and health updates). On the nutrition budget, staff said the program ran a year-end deficit of about $115,000 and is projected to finish the current year "probably between $80,000 [and] $150,000 in the negative." The board approved "Option 3," which would maintain CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) coverage for elementary schools and charge secondary students $3.25 for lunch and $2.00 for breakfast.

Board members and nutrition staff described the options considered. Option 1 would have kept divisionwide CEP (free meals for all students) but required spending reductions across categories and staff pay; Option 2 would have kept CEP at the elementary level and charged secondary students lower rates but still left budget gaps; Option 3 was presented as the plan most likely to balance the nutrition fund while limiting the number of students who would need to return to paid meals. Staff said Option 3 would allow one targeted goal: upgrading the nutrition-program accountant's pay to the N9 scale and moving closer to a small built safety net the program needs.

During discussion, a board member asked whether gluten-free and allergy-related offerings would carry extra cost under Option 3; staff said those items would be priced the same and not cost extra. A second board member noted the policy and operational challenges of reverting to charged meals after several years of free meals and urged prompt notice to families; the chair agreed the sooner families know, the better. A motion to approve Option 3 was moved and seconded and carried on a voice vote.

What happens next: staff and the board said they can announce the change promptly so families have time to prepare; if implemented, the division would need to collect free- and reduced-meal applications for those students who might qualify. Staff said summer feeding and other programs would continue to mitigate the short-term operating deficit.

Vote and formal action: the board moved to approve Option 3 as presented; the motion was seconded and the board adopted the option by voice vote.