The entire FCSD Cafeteria Staff would like to thank all parents/students for making last year another great year for us. We are grateful for your support. Prices for lunches and breakfasts will remain the same this year as they were last year:

We are still striving to offer a wide variety of nutritious meal choices for your children. I am sure everyone is aware of the childhood obesity problem in American children. Our kids are gaining alarming amounts of weight by eating the wrong foods, eating over sized portions and participating in an insufficient amount of exercise daily. The staff at the Fredonia Central School Cafeteria is continuing to do their part by offering portion controlled, well-balanced and nutritious meals consisting of good fats, nutrient-dense and fiber rich carbohydrates and lots of fruits and vegetables. Please encourage good eating habits at home, as well. If Mom and Dad eat right at home, it sends a powerful message that good wholesome food is part of a healthy, happy lifestyle. Parents can also help children by engaging in active games and sports as a family. Biking, hiking or simply going for a walk is very beneficial to everyone. If we work together we can reach our goal to help our children achieve a happier, healthier and even longer life with fewer health issues.

We will continue to provide the best possible meal at the best possible price for our students. Winsnap will continue to be utilized in the school cafeterias for 2009-10. WinSNAP provides each student with a debit account. Families are required to “pre-pay” for school meals by depositing money into this account. To prepay on your child’s Winsnap account, simply send a check made payable to the FCS Cafeteria either by mail or with your child. The cashiers will let your child know when the balance gets low. Remember, this is a debit, NOT a credit system. CHARGES ARE NOT ALLOWED.

If a negative balance does occur, a letter will be sent home. If the negative balance is not paid by the next day, the student will be given (and charged for) a peanut butter and jelly sandwich as their lunch until the account is settled. Please remind your child to take his/her Winsnap card with them every time they wish to make a purchase in the cafeteria. If you wish to request that no snacks or extras be sold to your child, please let me know and I will note your request on their account and notify the cashiers. We can also run a report at any time of what your child is purchasing in the cafeteria at your request.

Again, thank you for your support of our Cafeteria. Your comments and suggestions are always welcome.

Sincerely,

Judy Oakes Cafeteria Manager

Free and Reduced Meals Information

Children need healthy meals to learn. Fredonia Central School offers healthy meals every school day. Children from households that meet federal income guidelines (outlined below) are eligible for free meals or reduced price meals. Reduced price meals cost each eligible student $.25 for lunch and $.25 for breakfast. To apply for free or reduced price meals, submit a Direct Certification letter from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance OR complete the attached application, sign it, and return it to Judy Oakes, Cafeteria Manager, as soon as possible. Please refer to the guidelines contained in this letter when completing the application. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information.

1. Do I need to fill out an application for each child?   No. Complete the application to apply for free or reduced price meals. Do not fill out more than one application for your household.
2. Who can get free meals? Children in households getting Food Stamps or TANF and most foster children can get free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can get free meals if your household income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines. Each foster child must be listed on a separate application, with Part 2 completed and include an adult signature.
3. Can homeless, runaway and migrant children get free meals? Please contact the Fredonia District Homeless Liason at 679-1581, ext. 2701 to see if your child(ren) qualify, if you have not been informed that they will get free meals.
4. Who can get reduced price meals? Your children can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Income Chart, shown on this application.
5. Should I fill out an application if I received a letter this school year saying my children are approved for free or reduced price meals? Please read the letter you received carefully and follow the instructions. Call the school at 679-1581 ext. 2705 if you have questions.
6. I get WIC, can my child(ren) get free meals? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Please fill out an application.
7. Will the information I give be checked? The school may ask you at any time during the school year to verify your eligibility. You will be notified, in writing, if you have been selected for Verification. School officials may ask you to send papers showing that your child should receive free or reduce price meals at the time you applied.
8. If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start getting Food Stamps, TANF or other benefits. If you lose your job, your children may be able to get free or reduced price meals.
9. What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
10. May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? Yes. You or your child(ren) do not have to be a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced price meals.
11. Who should I include as members of my household? You must include all people living in your household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives, or friends). You must include yourself and all children who live with you.
12. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally get. For example, if you normally get $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get it only sometimes.

Income Chart

The following chart lists income levels according to household size and income levels received either yearly, monthly or weekly. If your total household income is the same or less than the amounts on the Income Chart below, your children may be eligible to receive free or reduced price meals.

REDUCED PRICE ELIGIBILITY INCOME CHART

Effective from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010

How to Apply

To get free or reduced price meals for your children you may submit a Direct Certification letter received from the NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, OR carefully complete one application for your household and return it to the designated office. If you now receive food stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) for any children, or participate in the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), the application must include the children's names, the household food stamp, TANF or FDPIR case number and the signature of an adult household member. All children with the same case number may be listed on the same application. Separate applications are required for children with different case numbers. If you do not list a food stamp, TANF or FDPIR case number for all the children for whom you are applying, the application must include the names of everyone in the household, the amount of income each household member, and how often it is received and where it comes from. It must include the signature of an adult household member and that adult's social security number, or the word “none” if the adult does not have a social security number. An application that is not complete cannot be approved. Contact your local Department of Social Services for your food stamp or TANF case number or complete the income portion of the application.

Reporting Changes

The benefits that you are approved for at the time of application are effective for the entire school year. You no longer need to report changes for an increase in income or decrease in household size, or if you no longer receive food stamps.

Income Exclusions

The value of any child care provided or arranged, or any amount received as payment for such child care or reimbursement for costs incurred for such care under the Child Care Development (Block Grant) Fund should not be considered as income for this program.

Nondiscrimination Statement

This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly. In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Meal Service to Children With Disabilities

Federal regulations require schools and institutions to serve meals at no extra charge to children with a disability which may restrict their diet. A student with a disability is defined in 7CFR Part 15b.3 of Federal regulations, as one who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities. Major life activities are defined to include functions such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. You must request the special meals from the school and provide the school with medical certification from a medical doctor. If you believe your child needs substitutions because of a disability, please get in touch with us for further information, as there is specific information that the medical certification must contain.

Confidentiality

The United States Department of Agriculture has approved the release of students names and eligibility status, without parent/guardian consent, to persons directly connected with the administration or enforcement of federal education programs such as Title I and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which are United States Department of Education programs used to determine areas such as the allocation of funds to schools, to evaluate socioeconomic status of the school's attendance area, and to assess educational progress. Information may also be released to State health or State education programs administered by the State agency or local education agency, provided the State or local education agency administers the program, and federal State or local nutrition programs similar to the National School Lunch Program. Additionally, all information contained in the free and reduced price application may be released to persons directly connected with the administration or enforcement of programs authorized under the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) or Child Nutrition Act (CNA); including the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs, the Special Milk Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, Summer Food Service Program and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infants and Children (WIC); the Comptroller General of the United States for audit purposes, and federal, State or local law enforcement officials investigating alleged violation of the programs under the NSLA or CNA. The disclosure of eligibility information not specifically authorized by the NSLA requires a written consent statement from the parent/guardian. We will let you know when your application is approved or denied.