Carlin Cotton, director of school nutrition, told the board the nutrition enterprise fund is projected to use roughly $245,000 of its fund balance next year because food and labor costs have risen and pandemic-era federal supplements did not reappear. Cotton said she had not raised student meal prices in about a decade and that she had covered recent shortfalls earlier by using one‑time COVID grants, but those funds are no longer available.

Why it matters: Cotton said she must either raise paid student meal prices this school year, reduce services, or secure new revenue sources. Board members discussed whether the district should stock some of the increase itself rather than pass it to families and also explored whether Coffee County could pursue the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) to provide free meals to all students.

Details from the meeting: Cotton said federal reimbursement and commodity programs provide the bulk of nutrition revenue but that staffing and food costs rose; she reported a $2.45 million approximate food budget and a current fund balance of roughly $2.1 million, with a three‑month operating reserve guideline of about $980,000. She asked the board to consider a modest price increase (examples discussed in the meeting included 50 cents) or approving temporary district support while pursuing CEP. Cotton said the state sometimes offers matching grants and a new vendor discount program through the trustee's office could yield small savings.

Board discussion: Members asked whether CEP could be implemented for the whole district and what up‑front cost that would require; Cotton said CEP requires high participation and direct certification numbers and the state's timing might require a waiver or an extension to change the 2025'26 budget. Members asked whether general fund support could cover lost revenue; staff said it's possible but would reduce the general fund's flexibility and that any such transfer must be documented as a budget amendment.

Next steps: Cotton said she would report back with a formal price proposal for board consideration at the next meeting and will continue pursuing CEP eligibility and vendor early‑payment discounts. Board members asked staff to explore whether short‑term general fund support could be a bridge if the board decides not to raise student prices immediately.