PUBLIC
RELEASE
West
Carrollton School District today announced its 2020-2021 program year policy for free and
reduced priced meals for students unable to pay the full price of meals or milk
served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast or Special Milk
Programs. Each school office and the central office has a copy of the policy,
which may be reviewed by any interested party.
The Federal
Income Eligibility Guidelines will be used to determine eligibility. Children
from families whose annual income is at or below the federal guidelines are
eligible for free and reduced-price meals or free milk if the school
participates in the Special Milk Program.
Application
forms are distributed to all homes in a letter to parents or guardians. To
apply for free and reduced-price benefits, households should complete an
application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available at the
principal’s office in each school. A complete application is required.
Households which currently receive Special Nutrition Assistance Program
Benefits (SNAP, formally known as food stamps) or Ohio Works First (OWF) funds
for a child must provide the child’s name, the SNAP or OWF case number and
signature of an adult household member on the application. Households that do
not receive SNAP or OWF funds must provide the names of all household members,
the last four digits of the Social Security Number of the adult signing the
application or state “none” if the adult does not have a Social Security
Number, the amount and source of income received by each household member
(state the monthly income) and the signature of an adult household member. If
any of this information is missing, the school cannot process the application.
FREE HEALTH
CARE: Families
with children eligible for school meals may be eligible for free health care
coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio’s Healthy Start & Healthy Families
programs. These programs include coverage for doctor visits, immunizations,
physicals, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and
more. Please call 1-800-324-8680 for more information or to request an
application. Information can also be found on the web at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/familychild.stm. Anyone who has an Ohio Medicaid
card is already receiving these services.
The
information provided on the application is confidential and will only be used
for the purpose to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during
the school year by school or other program official. To discourage the
possibility of misrepresentation, the application forms contain a statement
above the space for signature certifying that all information furnished is true
and correct. Applications are being made in connection with the receipt of
federal funds. Schools or other officials may check the information on the
application at any time during the school year. Deliberate misrepresentation of
information may subject the applicant to prosecution under applicable state and
federal laws.
Households
will be notified of the approval or denial of benefits.
Foster
children are categorically eligible for free meal benefits regardless of the
household’s income. If a family has foster children living with them and wishes
to apply for such meals or milk for them, contact the school for more
information.
Under the
provision of the policy, Tina Pett, Food Services Supervisor will review
applications and determine eligibility. If a parent or guardian disagrees with
the decision on the application or the result of verification, the decision may
be discussed with the determining official on an informal basis. If a formal
appeal is desired, the household has the right to a fair hearing. A fair
hearing can be requested either orally or in writing from:
Dr. Andrea
J. Townsend Ed.D., Superintendent
430 E. Pease
Ave.
West
Carrollton, OH 45449
(937)859-5121
The policy
contains an outline of the hearing procedure.
Households
may apply for benefits any time during the school year. If a household is not
currently eligible and if the household size increases or income decreases
because of unemployment or other reasons, the family should contact the school
to file a new application. Such changes may make the children of the family
eligible for free or reduced-price benefits if the family income falls at or
below the levels shown above.
Nondiscrimination
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, sex,
disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in
any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
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 Agency (State or local) where they applied for
benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities
may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.
Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than
English.
To file a
program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program
Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a 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
Washington,
D.C. 20250-9410;
(2) fax:
(202) 690-7442; or
(3) email: [email protected]
This institution is an equal
opportunity provider.