Dear Parent or Guardian:
Children need healthy meals to learn. West Fargo Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $.90 for grades 1-5 and $1.15 for grades 6-12; lunch costs $1.65 for grades 1-5 and $1.80 for grades 6-12. Cost of milk is $.30. Your child(ren) may qualify for free meals or for reduced price meals. Reduced price breakfast costs $.30 and reduced price lunch costs $.40.
- DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD? No. Complete the application to apply for free or reduced price meals. Use one Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to your school office or it can be mailed to: Peggy Rieniets, West Fargo Public Schools, 207 W. Main Ave., West Fargo, ND 58078.
| FEDERAL INCOME CHART (For School Years 2009-11) |
| Household |
Yearly |
Monthly |
Weekly |
| 1 |
$20,036 |
$1,670 |
$386 |
| 2 |
$26,955 |
$2,247 |
$519 |
| 3 |
$33,874 |
$2,823 |
$652 |
| 4 |
$40,793 |
$3,400 |
$785 |
| 5 |
$47,712 |
$3,976 |
$918 |
| 6 |
$54,631 |
$4,553 |
$1,051 |
| 7 |
$61,550 |
$5,130 |
$1,184 |
| 8 |
$68,469 |
$5,706 |
$1,317 |
| Each Add’l Person |
$6,919 |
$577 |
$134 |
|
- WHO CAN GET FREE MEALS? All children in households receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or the Temporary Assistance Program for Needy Families (TANF), and most foster children can get free meals regardless of your income. Also, your children can get free meals if your household's gross income is within the free limits on the Federal Income Guidelines.
- CAN HOMELESS, RUNAWAY, AND MIGRANT CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS? If you haven't been told your children will get free meals, please call the school at 499-1008 or 499-1984 to see if they qualify.
- WHO CAN GET REDUCED PRICE MEALS? Your children can get low cost meals if your household is within the reduced price limits on the Federal Eligibility Income Chart, shown on this application.
- SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE APPROVED FOR FREE MEALS? Please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. Call the school at 499-1008 or 499-1984 if you have questions.
- MY CHILD'S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT ANOTHER ONE? Yes. Your child's application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year. You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year.
- 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.
- WILL THE INFORMATION I GIVE BE CHECKED? Yes and we may also ask you to send written proof.
- IF I DON'T QUALIFY NOW, MAY I APPLY LATER? Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year.
- 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 Jan Sliper, Director of Food Service, West Fargo Public School District #6, 801 9th St. E., West Fargo, ND 58078, phone number (701) 499-1837.
- 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 U.S. citizens to qualify for free or reduced price meals.
- 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 living with you.
- WHAT IF MY INCOME IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes.
- WE ARE IN THE MILITARY. DO WE INCLUDE OUR HOUSEING ALLOWANCE AS INCOME? If you get an off-base housing allowance, it must be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income.
- MY SPOUSE IS DEPLOYED TO A COMBAT ZONE. IS HER COMBAT PAY COUNTED AS INCOME? No, if the combat pay is received in addition to her basic pay because of her deployment and it wasn't received before she was deployed, combat pay is not counted as income. Contact your school for more information.
If you have other questions or need help, please call Peggy Rieniets at (701) 499-1008 (before Labor Day) or (701) 499-1984 (after Labor Day) Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Sincerely,
Peggy R. Rieniets
Administrative Assistant
Free/Reduced Lunch Program
In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Dept. 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 (voice) or (202)720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. |
