Good news! Beginning Wednesday, November 1, 2023 Greenville Central School District will provide FREE MEALS to all Greenville students.
What does this mean?
All students enrolled at Greenville Central School District (UPK through grade 12) can receive one FREE breakfast and one FREE lunch at school beginning on November 1st. Families who do not currently receive free or reduced lunches must continue to pay for meals through Tuesday, October 31st.
How do I sign my child up for free meals?
No sign-up is required! If your child would like a free breakfast or lunch, simply have them visit the cafeteria line, and their meals will be at no cost to your household. Students will still be required to put in their PINs in the cafeteria line.
How is this possible?
After a lengthy application process, the District was approved to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) expanded access by schools to the federal CEP of the National School Lunch Program.
“The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. CEP allows the nation’s highest-poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).” Learn more here.
If I owe money on my child’s meal account, do I still need to pay it?
Yes, unpaid meal debt should be paid as soon as possible. Beginning November 1st, families will no longer incur debt. Students who incur charges for school meals prior to November 1st will still owe the District for charged meals. Unpaid balances are not cleared by the CEP free meals program, families are still responsible for paying any debt incurred. As a reminder, accounts in debt can not purchase a la carte items.
What is included in the free meals?
Breakfast includes 100% juice, fruit, milk, and one breakfast menu item. Lunch includes the daily lunch option, or one of the secondary options available daily. At the middle school/high school, the salad bar is also available for free at lunch. Students are entitled to one free breakfast (including milk, vegetable/fruit, and grains/bread) and one free lunch (including milk, vegetables, fruits, grains/bread, and meat/meat alternate). If a student would like an additional meal or portion of a meal, they will be charged the regular price using cash or money on their account. Please visit our website for meal calendars and pricing.
Why am I being charged if all meals are free?
- In order for a K-12 lunch to be free, students MUST take at least 3 of the 5 components of a reimbursable lunch (milk, vegetable, fruit, grain & meat/meat alternative). This is required by NYS. One of the three components MUST be a fruit or vegetable. If a student does not take all three components, including a fruit or vegetable, NYS requires the District to charge for the meal.
- In order for a K-12 breakfast to be free, students MUST take at least 2 of the 3 components of a reimbursable breakfast (grain, fruit, juice, milk). This is required by NYS. If a student does not take all three components NYS requires the District to charge for the meal.
- Students receive one free breakfast and one free lunch. If they ask for an extra meal, payment is required.
- A la carte items and extra servings do not qualify under the free meal program. Payment is required for these items.
What is NOT included in free meals?
A la carte choices, listed on each school lunch menu, are not included as part of the free meals. These are items like chips, granola bars, special beverages, extra milk, second helpings of food, etc. Students can pay for these items with money on their lunch accounts or with cash.
Are my taxes increasing now that everyone can receive free meals?
No, your school taxes are not impacted by this change. The meals are reimbursed on both a state and federal level. The funding for free meals does not come out of your school taxes.
What if I still have money in my LINQ account?
Students can use the money on their account to purchase a la carte items and second helpings of meals if they choose.
Do I still need to fill out a meal application every year?
If you usually qualify for free meals, we encourage you to still fill out the application annually. This form provides additional benefits for qualifying students including waiving student fees on things like AP exams.
I have questions about this - who do I contact?
Sara Statham, Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Business
stathams@greenvillecsd.org or 518-966-5070 x511
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:
mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
email: Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
UPDATED NOVEMBER 2, 2023