Board votes to discontinue district summer lunch program this year amid $48,000 shortfall

Houston Public School District staff told the board the district’s lunch fund showed a roughly $48,000 deficit as of February and that providing summer meals this year would add a projected $22,000 shortfall. The board discussed eligibility rules, staffing costs and service variability, and then voted to discontinue the summer lunch program for this year.

An unidentified staff member explained the district would need to serve roughly 100 students each day over the summer to break even; in contrast, average daily participation last year ranged from about 20 to 100 depending on day and location. The staff member said bringing the lunch fund balance to zero would be an internal transfer from the general fund, but that continuing the program without higher participation would increase the deficit.

Board member Mark moved to discontinue the program for this summer, Pete seconded, and the motion carried. Board members and staff discussed outreach to churches and community partners and agreed to revisit the program in future budget planning and at the upcoming finance committee meeting. The formal vote to discontinue was recorded with a motion and majority approval; no roll call with named tallies was provided in the public transcript.