Newtown School 2002-2003 Lunch Program

The Newtown Board of Education announced its policy for determining eligibility of children who may receive free or reduced price meals under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs or free milk served under the Special Milk Program.

Local school officials have adopted the following family size and income criteria for determining eligibility: The following income guidelines will be used in Connecticut from July 1, 2002, to June 30, 2003, for determining eligibility of participating for free and reduced price meals and free milk in the Child Nutrition Programs.

Free Meals/Milk

Number             Annual                Monthly             Weekly              

 In                   Gross                Gross                Gross                

Family              Income               Income               Income

 

1                     11,518                960                   222

2                     15,522                1,294                 299

3                     19,526                1,628                 376

4                     23,530                1,961                 453

5                     27,534                2,295                 530

6                     31,538                2,629                 607

7                     35,542                2,962                 684

8                     39,546                3,296                 761

Each Add’l

 Family +4,004                +334                  +77

Member

Reduced Price Meals

Number Annual                Monthly              Weekly

  in                  Gross                Gross                Gross

Family              Income               Income               Income

 

1                     16,391                1,366                 316

2                     22,089                1,841                 425

3                     27,787                2,316                 535

4                     33,485                2,791                 644

5                     39,183                3,266                 754

6                     44,881                3,741                 864

7                     50,579                4,215                 973

8                     56,277                4,690                 1,083

Each Add’l

 Family +5,698                +475                  +110

Member

Children from families whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk. Application forms are being sent to all homes with a letter to parents. To apply for free or reduces price meals or free milk, households should fill out the application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office at each school. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purposes of determining eligibility, and may be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program officials.

Applications may be submitted at any time during the year. Application forms for food stamp/TFA households require the child’s name, the child’s food stamp/TFA case number and the signature of an adult household member. Application forms for all other households require a statement of total household income, household size and names of all household members. The social security number of an adult household member must be included or a statement that the household member does not possess one. The adult household member must also sign the application certifying that the information provided is correct.

Households are required to report increases in household income of more than $50 per month or $600 per year and decreases in household size. Termination of food stamp or TFA benefits must be reported. In certain cases, foster children are also eligible for these benefits. If a family has a foster child living with them who is a legal ward of the State of Connecticut, that child is considered a family of one, and monthly personal income from the State must be reported.

Under the provisions of the policy for determining for free and reduced price meals, Jacqueline Kulikowski will review application and determine eligibility; if a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling of the determining official, he/she may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis.

If a parent wishes to make a formal appeal, a request either orally or in writing, may be made to Ronald Bienkowski, 4 Fairfield Circle South, Newtown, CT 06470 or 426-7619 for a hearing to appeal the decision.

The policy contains an outline of the hearing procedure. Each school and the central office of the school district has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by an interested party.

If a household member becomes unemployed or if household size changes at any time, the family should contact the school to file a new application. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for reduced price meals, free meals, or free milk, if the family income falls at or below the levels shown above.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis or race, color, national origin, gender, age, or disability. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).