C with ship logo

Columbus, NEB - (September 10, 2020) Columbus Public Schools will participate in the USDA waiver program and begin permitting every in attendance, onsite, and enrolled student to receive a full breakfast and full lunch meal each day at the cost of $0. This program will begin on Monday, September 14, 2020 and will be offered on regularly scheduled school days thru December 22, 2020. “All families in our school community will benefit from this waiver program,” stated CPS Director of Business Operations/Human Resources Chip Kay. Every student at CPS being guaranteed a free meal through December ensures that we can support their basic needs during very unpredictable times.” 

This program does not automatically make students Free and Reduced status. Applications should still be completed to receive other fee waivers related to F/R status, including meals served after December 22nd. If a student or family qualifies for Free and Reduced status and have not yet completed the paperwork, they may do so by logging into their family Wordware account and submit it online.

 Current student balances will not be refunded but may be used for ala carte, extra servings, snacks, or additional drinks charged at regular cost. These items are not part of the USDA waiver. If student balances are not used as outlined above, funds will carry over for the use of regular meals after December 22nd.