HANNIBAL, MO — Hannibal School District #60 has announced a revised policy that will provide free or reduced-price meals to students who cannot afford the full cost of meals supplied in schools through the School Breakfast Program and the National School Lunch Program.
The following family-size income requirements have been adopted by local school officials to determine eligibility:
Free or reduced lunches are available to children from families whose current income is at or below the amounts displayed. You can get applications at the school office. A Free and Reduced Price School Meals Family Application must be completed and submitted to the school in order to be eligible. All information submitted on the application is kept private and will only be utilized to assess eligibility. Anytime during the academic year, applications are accepted. To be eligible, a completed application is necessary.
A whole application consists of:
- household income from all sources or Food Stamp/TANF case number,
- names of all household members, and
- the signature and last four digits of social security number or indication of no social security number of adult household member signing the application. School officials may verify current income or other information provided on the application at any time during the school year.
It is possible for foster children to be eligible regardless of the household’s finances. Families with
Children who qualify for food benefits under the foster, Head Start, homeless, migrant, or runaway programs should get in touch with the school. Participants in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program may be eligible for free or discounted meals.
Free lunches are available to children who live in households that are currently certified as receiving Food Stamps, TANF, or FDPIR. The names of the children, a declaration that the family receives the qualifying benefits, the Food Stamps/TANF/FDPIR case number, and the signature of the adult household member submitting the application are all required to complete the application. Families will be informed of their children’s eligibility for free school meals if the school has knowledge that members of the family are receiving help from Food Stamps, TANF, or FDPIR. To have benefits extended to all children in the household, the household should get in touch with the school if any children were not named on the application or eligibility notification.
The family should get in touch with the school to submit a fresh application whenever a family member loses their job or if the size of the family changes. The family’s children may become eligible for these benefits as a result of these modifications.
The Food Service Secretary will evaluate the applications and decide eligibility in accordance with the policy’s rules. A parent may want to speak with the hearing official informally if they are unhappy with the decision made by the determining official, or they may submit a request in writing or verbally to Ritchie Kracht, Superintendent, 4650 McMasters Ave., Hannibal, MO (573-221-1258). The policy describes the hearing process. Every school has a comprehensive copy of the policy on file, and anyone with an interest in it can study it at the central office.
USDA’s Statement on Nondiscrimination:
USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions involved in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or retaliation or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA in accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies (not all bases apply to all programs).
Programs and incidents have different deadlines for filing complaints and for remedies.
The state or local agency that oversees the program or USDA via the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY) should be contacted by persons with disabilities who need alternative communication methods for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.). Information about the program may also be provided in languages other than English.
Complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, available online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office, or send a letter to USDA with all the information requested on the form to file a program discrimination complaint. Call (866) 632-9992 to obtain a copy of the complaint form. Send USDA your filled-out letter or form by:
- Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
- Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
- Email: [email protected].
