GERONIMO, TEXAS — July 22, 2026 —  At its July 20 meeting, the Navarro ISD Board of Trustees voted to approve a $0.10 increase in school meal prices for the upcoming 2026-27 school year. The adjustments are necessary to remain in compliance with USDA requirements and help balance the rising operational costs of the district's child nutrition program.

The United States Department of Agriculture, in Section 205 of the Health, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, requires school food authorities participating in the National School Lunch Program to review and adjust lunch prices for paid students annually to be more in line with the Federal reimbursement rates. Increasing the price by $0.10 on each campus maintains compliance with USDA requirements.

The updated meal fee schedule for the 2026-27 school year is as follows:

• Breakfast (All Campuses): $1.60 (Students qualifying for Free and Reduced status: $0.00)
• Elementary / Intermediate Lunch: $3.35
• Junior High Lunch: $3.50
• High School Lunch: $3.75
• Reduced and Free Lunch (All Campuses): $0.00

Understanding Federal Eligibility and Funding Gaps

Navarro ISD would like to provide clarity to stakeholders regarding why the district cannot offer district-wide free meals like our neighboring community. While Navarro ISD proudly serves three Title 1 campuses, it does not currently qualify as a Title 1 district or have the overall low socio economic population required to qualify for universal free meal funding. Universal free meals were temporarily available during the COVID-19 pandemic through emergency federal provisions, but those federal flexibilities expired in 2022.

Some districts utilize the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) to provide free meals to all students, but this requires a high Identified Student Percentage (ISP)—the proportion of students automatically qualifying for free meals through programs like SNAP or TANF. According to data from the USDA’s CEP Slider Tool, districts that implement CEP successfully and sustainably typically have an ISP of 62.5% or higher, which guarantees full federal reimbursement at the free rate.

Navarro ISD’s ISP sits at approximately 25.70%. At this level, only about 40% of meals would be reimbursed at the free rate, leaving a large funding gap. Under Section 5 of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Administrator’s Reference Manual (ARM), any financial shortfall incurred under CEP cannot be covered by federal funds; it must be fully offset by local non-federal sources, such as the district’s general fund, and reconciled to a zero balance annually. Because CEP eliminates the ability to collect normal meal payments from families who do not qualify for assistance, electing this program would place an unsustainable multi-year strain on local resources. Currently, no district in the region with an ISP similar to Navarro ISD utilizes CEP due to these severe fiscal risks.

Compassionate Practices and Student Support

Navarro ISD is committed to student dignity and well-being. Carlette Drabek, Director of Child Nutrition Services, said, “Our cafeteria teams ensure no student is ever shamed. Workers do not take away trays, nor do we substitute alternative meals when students have negative balances.” Throughout the year, Navarro ISD communicates with families, who do not qualify for free or reduced lunch, to support payment plans and in some cases, families refuse to pay.  For families that do qualify for free and reduced lunch, Navarro ISD continues to reach out directly to families to support completing the required federal application. She further explained however that uncollected balances add up. “This past year, the district accrued over $7,000 in unpaid meal debt, a deficit that must be paid off using general fund tax dollars at the end of each fiscal year.”

Unpaid meal debt is an increasing issue in districts across Texas and area districts have seen the debt increase with families that are not registered for free and reduced lunch. To ensure all students have the support they need, and to prevent this debt and protect the local budget, Navarro ISD urges all families to submit a Free and Reduced Price Meal Application at the start of each school year. These applications are entirely confidential, carry absolutely no shame, and open up vital resources. Notably, for the entire 2026-27 school year, all students who qualify for reduced-price meals will receive their breakfast and lunch at no charge ($0.00).By law, the application must be completed by the family, not district staff but staff is available to assist families with the process. Link and contact for assistance

Community Partnerships and Supplemental Resources

Our Panther Family continues to look out for one another beyond the cafeteria through community partnerships and student-led systems.

Our partnership with Seeds of Love was successful throughout the summer. Thanks to the generosity of volunteers, the program is actively providing essential groceries to 60 Navarro families throughout the summer months. Throughout the year, the district shares food security support with families in need like Hot Meal Mondays offered every second Monday of the month from 5pm-7pm, prepared by Geronimo VFW. 

Simultaneously, preparations are underway for the launch of the Panther Supply Closet, which will stand alongside the Panther Feeding Panthers supplemental food pantry. The closet will offer school supplies, clothing, and other basic daily necessities to ensure all students have everything they need to feel confident and prepared when they return for the new school year.

Navarro ISD is excited to expand these community-backed resources and is profoundly grateful for the generosity, dedication, and shared spirit of support that allows the district to care for its families. Any family in need is asked to contact their campus counselor for assistance so we can coordinate our resources to continue to support all members of our Panther Family.