Some members of the Manitowoc Public School District think opting back into the Community Eligibility Provision or CEP might be a good idea for now.
The provision allowed the district to provide free lunches for all students in the district and came about during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But Superintendent Jim Feil decided to opt out of the program saying the program is costing the district more to keep than it is to go back to the old lunch model.
The board discussed specific students who might fall through the cracks of not being able to have free or reduced lunches.
According to Board Member “Biff” Hansen, he’s gotten complaints that students aren’t getting fed properly.
While other reports say the board seemed to agree to opt back in, Board Member Matt Phipps seems to agree with Feil’s decision in the first place.
“That’s why Mr. Feil came to the solution that we give the local government, or our local principals, the authority to make discretionary calls,” he explained. “We’re solving the issue at a local level and not letting the federal mandate our requirements. The solution is solved.”
Board President Stacey Soeldner says she would be okay exploring opting back into CEP if it’s financially beneficial to the district.
“If we find out if the kids that are in the cracks are costing the district between $40-$60,000, then that doesn’t make sense,” she said. “But again, we started at $300K then we went to $100K and now it’s at neutral. It doesn’t count teachers providing things.”
Feil says he wants to put it to a vote at the next board meeting.
“I need to get back to focusing on education,” he said bluntly. “I do feel that you need to know what you’re voting for and what’s going to happen which I’m thinking will be minimal from a taxpayer point of view.”
There has been both support and opposition from parents about opting out of CEP.
Both sides had a heated debate during public comments during last week’s regular board meeting.
The district won’t be able to just opt back into the program but will have to work with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to do it.
If they can’t, Feil says they can try to get back next year.
