Displaying items by tag: Media Release

Summer Meal Service Programs In 2021-2022

Weber School District is participating in the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) food service program during the 2021-2022 school year under a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Meals will be provided to all children free of charge who are enrolled students registered at the school where the meal service is being offered. Meal service is restricted to this population in order to maintain safety and control for students that are enrolled at the school site. Meals will be provided to all children without charge and are the same for all children regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

Free meals to children will be provided at the sites and times as follows:

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: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-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:

• Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
  1400 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
• Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
• Email: .

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Weber School District today announced its policy for providing meals for children served under the National School Lunch, and/or School Breakfast Programs. This school year, healthy meals will be offered at no cost to all students. These meals will be available every school day. Typically, a student’s household must meet income eligibility requirements to qualify for free or reduced-price meals. However, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allowing schools to waive this requirement for the 2021-2022 school year. 

Households will not be required to submit a meal application form to receive meals at no charge this school year. However, Weber School District is still collecting and processing applications for free and reduced-price meals. This is because school funding and eligibility for other programs depends on completed meal applications. Completing an application this year may also prevent a gap in benefits for your child next year.  

Each household will receive a letter informing them of the program, including contact information for any questions. Each school and/or the school nutrition office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party. It is important to submit a completed meal application as soon as possible.

• Only one meal application is needed for each household. Applications are collected at the local level; each school district or charter school has their own process for submitting applications.
• Applications are available at http://wsd.net/departments/support/child-nutrition .

Criteria for Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits

The following criteria will be used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits for School Year 2021-2022: 

Income

1. Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels

Categorical or Automatic Eligibility

2. Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Program Participant 

3. Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster
4. Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start

Income Eligibility

For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must complete the free and reduced-price meal application and return it to Genina Walton, CNP Coordinator, at . Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information:

1. Names of all household members
2. Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member
3. Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for “No Social Security number”
4. Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct

Categorical or Program Eligibility

Weber School District is working with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible. Weber School District will notify the households of these children that they do not need to complete an application. Any household that does not receive a letter and feels it should have should contact Genina Walton, CNP Coordinator, at .

Determining Eligibility

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Genina Walton, CNP Coordinator, at will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Official’s eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to Kayleen Anderson, CNP Supervisor, at .

Any household that wishes to decline benefits should contact Genina Walton, CNP Coordinator, at  .

Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used to determine eligibility. Applications may also be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year.

Unexpected Circumstances

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the attached current income eligibility guidelines.

Sharing Information

The information provided by the household is confidential and will be used only for purposes of determining eligibility and verifying data, unless a wavier releasing the use of the information for other specific programs is signed by the parent or guardian. Families who are notified of categorical or automatic eligibility (directly certified) will receive a wavier release form for their signature with the notification letter. The household name and address will be given to the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) unless “No” is checked on the back of the application.

Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC) may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Individuals should complete an application for free and reduced-price meals and return it to the school where the child is enrolled. The family will be notified of the child’s eligibility.

Income Eligibility Guidelines

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 otherthan English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-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: .

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.