OPS Board Members talk free school lunch funding and future

OMAHA, Neb. —

Omaha Public Schools board members discuss free lunches in the district, after some schools were eliminated from the program in August.

In June, the district re-enrolled in the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal fund through the USDA that funds school meal plans based on need. For the three previous years, the entire district had been eligible for free lunches paid for by the CEP. This year, a majority of schools continued their eligibility, but 21 OPS schools no longer made the cut.

"For lunch, out of our 80 or so schools. Every student at 60 or so of our schools gets a free lunch. And if the remaining 21 schools, whoever qualifies for free and reduced lunch gets it," OPS Board President Jane Erdenberger said.

Omaha Public Schools board members say despite federa