Free meals for all Mathews students—a measure adopted during the first two years of the pandemic—will continue in the coming school year, based on information that the county’s school division qualifies for reimbursement for much of the expense through participation in the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program.

The Mathews County School Board unanimously approved the school program for 2022-2023, which would provide free breakfasts and lunches for all students, during Tuesday’s meeting in the Mathews High School media center.

The CEP program allows for schools located in low-income areas to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students. The program has an eligibility requirement of 40 percent or more of students identified as categorically eligible for free meals.

According to information compiled by Stephanie Lowe, the division’s director of business and finance, Mathews County Public Schools appears to qualify with 43 percent.

In her report to the schoo...