For the second year in a row, all Vernon ISD students will eat free at their school cafeteria, as the district will operate the Community Eligibility Program under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2024-2025 school year.

Districts qualifying to operate the Community Eligibility Program serve breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals. This approach reduces burdens for both families and school administrators and helps ensure all students receive nutritious meals.

“I am thrilled to once again be able to feed every child in our district breakfast and lunch at zero cost, because this helps lighten the financial burden of their parents,” said Skyler Boatman, VISD Child Nutrition Director. “Now, we can ensure that a nutritious breakfast and lunch is available every school day to every student, without their parents worrying about paying for it.”

The Community Eligibility Provision is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. This federal option allows the nation’s highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting individual household applications.

In the past, each student household had to complete an application to see if they qualified for the free or reduced-price meal program. CEP districts in low-income areas are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

The level of participation in these programs determines the level of federal funding for the school meals programs. CEP reduces the administrative burden for schools and allows them to offer free meals to all students.

Anyone with questions concerning the free meal program may contact Vernon ISD Child Nutrition Director Skyler Boatman at 940-553-1900 or at skyler.boatman@visdtx.org

Office Hours
8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Monday – Friday
The telephone number is 940-553-1900

If you have any questions, please call Alice Rodriguez at 940-553-1900 x 2243 or email alice.rodriguez@visdtx.org.

Media Release for Community Eligibility Provision for All Vernon ISD Campuses (August 14, 2023)

Media Release for Free and Reduced Meals (CEP) for McCord, Central, Shive, and Vernon Middle School (August 12, 2022)

Media Release for Free and Reduced Meals for Vernon High School (August 12, 2022)