Board votes to discontinue districtwide free-lunch program after $100,000 shortfall
The Waterloo Board approved discontinuing the Community Eligibility Provision for 2026—27 after staff said the food-service program lost roughly $100,000 this year and state reimbursement did not cover costs. Free and reduced-price meals will remain available via application.
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The Waterloo Board of Education voted at its July 14, 2026 meeting to discontinue the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) that had provided free lunch to all students districtwide. Board members and staff told the board that reimbursement rates based on prior-year free-and-reduced counts did not cover meal costs and that the district incurred a substantial loss in the cafeteria program this year.
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