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Portageville Elementary will participate in free breakfast, lunch program
PORTAGEVILLE, Mo. — Portageville Elementary School is participating in a Free Breakfast and Lunch Program for the upcoming school year of 2020-2021.
This alternative program is referred to as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). All students enrolled at this school may participate in the breakfast and lunch program at no charge. Household applications for free and reduced price meals will not be collected.
“Studies have shown that children who are not hungry perform better in school,” Superintendent Michael Allred said in a news release. “B y providing school meals to all children at no charge, we are hoping to create a better learning environment for our students. The school breakfast and lunch that we serve follows U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines for healthy school meals.
The Free Breakfast and Lunch Program cannot succeed without student support, Allred said.
“Please encourage your children to participate in the school meal programs,” he said. “If your children attend Portageville Elementary School breakfast and lunch will be available to them at no charge.”
Portageville School District also announced its revised free and reduced price policy for its high school students unable to pay the full price of meals served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.
Children from families whose current income is at or below those shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Applications are available at the school office. To apply, fill out a Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application and return it to the school. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility. Applications may be submitted any time during the school year. A complete application is required as a condition of eligibility. A complete application includes: (1) household income from all sources or Food Stamp/TANF case number, (2) names of all household members, and (3) the signature and last four digits of social security number or indication of no social security number of adult household member signing the application. School officials may verify current income at any time during the school year.
Foster children may be eligible regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside.
If a family member becomes unemployed or if family size changes, the family should contact the school to file a new application. Such changes may make the children of the family eligible for these benefits.
Households will be notified of their children’s eligibility status for free or reduced price meals. If any children were not listed on the eligibility notice for families receiving SNAP, TANF or FDPIR, the household should contact the school to have free meal benefits extended to those children.
If any child(ren) was not listed on the eligibility notice, the household should contact the LEA or school to have free meal benefits extended to that child(ren).
Under the provisions of the policy, the Business Manager will review the applications and determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official, they may wish to discuss the decision with the hearing official on an informal basis or he/she may make a request either orally or in writing to the Superintendent of Schools.
Hearing procedures are outlined in the policy. A complete copy of the policy is on file in each school and in the central office where any interested party may review it.