East Knox Schools to participate in free meals program for students

HOWARD — East Knox students are one step closer to receiving free breakfast and lunch in the 2024-25 school year.

At Thursday’s board of education meeting, the East Knox school board unanimously approved a measure to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, allowing all K-12 students free breakfast and lunch.

Superintendent Jim Peterson said he expects the district to be approved for CEP once the application is sent to the state.

According to the USDA’s website, Community Eligibility Provision is a no-cost meal service option for students for up to four consecutive years in approved schools.

Schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals. The formula is based on the school’s participation in other specific means-tested programs, according to USDA’s webpage on CEP.

These include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), among others.

Approximately 25% of students need to fit these criteria before CEP can be approved. East Knox High School identified 209 students (44.09%), compared to the elementary schools 223 (43.64%.)

The remaining percentage is reimbursed at the paid meal rate. Schools with an identified student percentage of 62.5% or greater will receive free meal reimbursement for all breakfast and lunch meals served to students.

According to the Ohio Dept. of Education & Workforce (DEW,) school food authorities will multiply the identified student percentage by a factor defined by the USDA. The final value represents the percentage of total student breakfast and lunch meals reimbursed at the free meal rate.

The school board would have the opportunity to exit the program next school year, East Knox treasurer Jessica Busenburg said.