School Nutrition

Media Release: Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
07/09/26

Media Release: Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)

The Brownwood Independent School District announced today it will operate the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for All Campuses for the 2026-27 school year. Schools qualifying to operate CEP serve breakfast and lunch to all children at no charge and eliminate the collection of meal applications for free, reduced-price, and paid student meals. This approach reduces burdens for both families, school administrators, and helps ensure that students receive nutritious meals. However, it is very important that all registration forms be completed, to ensure our school district/students receive all eligible funding possible.

For additional information, please contact the following person:

Brownwood ISD
Attention: Gloria Salazar, School Nutrition Liaison
2707 Southside Dr.
Brownwood, Texas, 76801, (325)646-5644
gloria.salazar1@brownwoodisd.org

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Brownwood ISD in partnership with Southwest Foodservice Excellence participates in the School Breakfast Program, and the National School Lunch Program.  These programs are tools to provide nutritious, delicious, and complete meals to children. They contribute to a better understanding of good nutrition and better eating habits. Research has proven that students who are well nourished perform better in school. Federal reimbursements are received for meals served to students that meet certain requirements outlined within the regulations.

In 2010, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act was passed. New meal pattern regulations were recently released by the USDA stating that all students must be served a food-based menu option. The food-based menu planning reflects the MyPlate Guidelines so that our students can choose a meal at breakfast or lunch that can include healthy choices from each of the five food categories: protein, grains, fruit, vegetables and milk. In addition, the new meal pattern will address 4 specific nutrients: calories, sodium, saturated fat and trans-fat.

Starting with the 2012-2013 school year, students will continue to have a variety of daily choices and an increased variety of available fruits and vegetables. The new Food-based meal pattern regulations require your student to take at least a 1/2 cup of fruit at breakfast and ½ cup of fruit or vegetables daily along with two other food categories. This will encourage your student to consume more healthy and nutrient dense foods!

Additionally, by the 2014-2015 school year, the new Smart Snacks regulations were in full effect.  This guarantees that all food sold in any BISD school during the school day will have to meet new more healthy standards.  Essentially all food sold, including all snacks, will be healthy, flavorful, and nutritious. 

We serve approximately 602,000 meals during the regular school year and approximately 8,500 meals during the summer.  All of our meals meet local, state and federal guidelines for freshness and nutrition.  Our school kitchens regularly receive high scores from the local health department.  

We encourage everyone to complete an application for Free and Reduced-price meals.  The applications are available in English and Spanish from each cafeteria, each school office and from the BISD Central Office. Free/Reduced school lunch applications DO NOT transfer from school year to school year.  If you are currently on free or reduced lunch, please come to the Central Office in August and fill out a new application for the new school year.  If you have any questions please contact us at 325.643.5644 (ext. 1130).

We at SFE and BISD strive to provide the highest quality and nutritious food, and our variety and quality of food and choices is unmatched. We offer a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Salad Bar at ALL SCHOOLS on the lunch line on a daily basis.  We encourage all children going through the line to get all the fresh fruit and veggies that they can eat.

All Proceeds and Revenue generated by the BISD Child Nutrition Department go directly back into the District to fund the Child Nutrition Program as well as other BISD programs.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture prohibits discrimination against its customers, employees, and applicants for employment on the bases of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, and where applicable, political beliefs, marital status, familial or parental status, sexual orientation, or all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program, or protected genetic information in employment or in any program or activity conducted or funded by the Department. (Not all prohibited bases will apply to all programs and/or employment activities.) If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish). USDA is an equal opportunity provider.

Southwest Food Service Excellence is currently accepting applications for food service positions at Brownwood ISD.

Child Nutrition employees are provided with training and development, a competitive hourly rate and a chance for advancements within the company.

Great Opportunities ~ Summers Off ~ District Holidays
Fingerprinting is required by law to work in the BISD school system. There is information on the form on how to schedule a fingerprinting appointment online and where to find fingerprinting locations. Please note that all new applicants will need to pay the fee for fingerprinting.

Download an Employment Application

Applications may be mailed to:
BISD Child Nutrition
2707 Southside Drive
Brownwood, TX 76801

Or delivered in person to the Child Nutrition Office located at:

Brownwood Independent School District
2707 Southside Drive
Brownwood, TX 76801

If you have any questions please call us at (325) 643-5644 ext 1130.

If your child has been identified as having a disability or has special dietary needs, changes can be made to your child's school breakfast and/or lunch at no extra charge with proper documentation from a physician.

For more information please click on the link below.

• Special Dietary Needs Guidelines (PDF)
• Special Dietary Form (to be filled out by licensed physician only)

FAMILY HUB

Downloads:

Family Hub Setup - English (PDF)

Family Hub Setup - Spanish (PDF)

Family Hub Flyer & Contact Information (PDF)

USDA recently published practical, science-based nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages sold to children at school during the school day. The standards, required by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, will allow schools to offer healthier snack foods to children, while limiting junk food.

The health of today’s school environment continues to improve. Students across the country are now offered healthier school lunches with more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The Smart Snacks in School standards will build on those healthy advancements and ensure that kids are only offered tasty and nutritious foods during the school day.

While our focus is on offering nutritious meals to your student on a daily basis, your SFE on-site management team, along with SFE’s team of culinary & nutrition experts, is excited to offer students new, healthier snack items this school year that meet these requirements.  You can expect to see more nutrient dense snacks like fruit cups and granola bars, and fewer empty calorie snacks. We encourage you to check out these new smarter snacking options in the cafeteria!

These new regulations will also affect fundraisers held during school days and school hours.  We encourage you to click the links here to learn more about the important legislation:

If you have any specific questions your school nutrition team can be reached at 325-643-5644 ext 1130.

Downloads (PDF)

• Brownwood ISD Wellness Implementation Plan
• WellSAT- Triennial Wellness Policy Assessment
• Wellness Policy Assessment Comparison with a Model Policy
• Brownwood ISD Local Wellness Plan
• Brownwood ISD Charge Policy (2026-27)
• Instructions for Complaint Link – English
• BISD Procedure for Discrimination Complaint Policy

Resources

• American Dietetic Association
• BMI Calculator
• Food & Drug Administration
• Food Network
• Go-Slow-Woah Foods
• Smart Snacks Calculator
• Texas Department of Agriculture
• Texas Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Department
• United States Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Program

Non-Discrimination Statement 

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the State or local Agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.