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Local advocates thank board for pursuing school meal program, urge canceling prior lunch debt
Summary
Public commenters praised the district's move to pursue the federal Community Eligibility Provision and urged the board to cancel approximately $21,000 in prior student lunch debt so all pupils can receive school meals before CEP takes effect.
A member of the Pennsylvania Cancel Lunch Debt Coalition told the Bristol Borough School District board on Dec. 3 that the district’s business manager told the coalition the district plans to pursue the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) next school year, and the coalition urged the board to consider canceling outstanding lunch debt in advance of CEP implementation.
“I was actually very, very excited to hear from the business manager, Christopher McHugh, that the board was planning to pursue this into the next school year,” the coalition member said, thanking the board and inviting members to speak one-on-one after the meeting. Another commenter asked the board to cancel all outstanding lunch debt so students may receive meals immediately, noting the district previously canceled about $21,000 in debt in 2022.
Paul Brulette, an educator, told the board, “There’s over 1000 students in this school district, and you should be proud that hopefully next year when this goes through, each and every one of them will be able to eat.” His remarks reinforced commenters’ requests that the board act to reduce barriers to student meals.
Board members did not take a formal vote on debt cancellation at the meeting; instead, the public comments served as a request for the board and administration to consider next steps as they pursue CEP next year.
