District announces free, reduced meals policy

The School District of Lee County presents its 2014-15 policy for free and reduced price meals for children unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

The district’s administrative office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party.

Household size and income criteria is used to determine eligibility. Children from families whose income is at or below the set levels are eligible for free or reduced price meals.

Applications are available at: MealApplication.LeeSchools.net. Paper applications will continue to be available at each school and the district office.

The School District of Lee County receives over 42,000 meal applications at the start of each school year. In an effort to speed up processing, the district encourages parents/guardians to fill out applications online; the online process is three times faster.

To determine eligibility, households must provide the following information on the application:

– Names of all household members

– Each household member receiving income must be listed by the amount and the type of income they receive (such as wages, child support, et cetra)

– Social Security Number (last four digits) of the head of household/primary wage earner or the adult signing the application. If no Social Security Number mark the “NONE” box.

– Households that receive SNAP, FDPIR or TANF benefits are required to list the case number on the application.

You may apply for benefits at any time during the school year if financial circumstances change. If you are not eligible now but have a decrease in household income, become unemployed, have an increase in family size or become eligible for SNAP, TANF or FDPIR benefits, you may complete an application at that time.

Once approved, benefits are good for the entire school year.

Under the provisions of the free and reduced price meal policy, the Central Food Service Office will process applications and eligibility will be determined electronically.

If a parent/guardian is dissatisfied with the ruling, he/she may wish to discuss the decision with the determining official on an informal basis.

If the parent/guardian wishes to make a formal appeal, he/she may make a request either orally or in writing to: Sonny Stelmacki, Director, Food Services, 2855 Colonial Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33966 or calling (239) 461-8449. The policy contains an outline of the hearing procedure.

Foster children are also eligible for the benefits. If a household has foster children living with them and wishes to apply for such meals, the guardian needs to contact the Food Service Office for information.

The information provided by the household is confidential and is used only for purposes of determining eligibility and verifying data.

All Lee County traditional public schools will offer a universal free breakfast for the 2014-15 school year to all students.