• 196 Main Street, New Paltz, New York 12561
    Phone:  845-256-4050 Fax:  845-256-4283   
    www.newpaltz.k12.ny.us
    Michael Robinson                                                                                               
    Food Service Director

    August 1, 2019

    Dear Parent or Guardian:


    Enclosed is a free and reduced price breakfast and lunch application that we ask you to complete if you think you may be eligible for these benefits. We believe that some parents may not be taking advantage of the free and reduced price program. Please be assured that if your son or daughter is eligible for this program, he or she will not be treated differently than any other student in the district. Take a moment to go over the income scale/family size chart enclosed to see if you may be eligible. Free and Reduced applications for 2018-2019 school year can only be used through October 21, 2019. Applications for 2019-2020 school year must be approved for all meals effective October 21, 2019 or the child must be charged full price. The program does NOT allow retroactivity.

    Please note: Breakfast is available at all of the district schools.


    New Paltz Central School District could receive larger amounts of financial aid for technology and general operating costs as well as federal grants for special education, remedial education and teacher training, if the free and reduced priced eligible students make up 35 percent or more of the student body. The possible approval of your family for the free and reduced priced meals will assist both your family and the School District.


    We invite all students to show their support for the school food service program through frequent participation. Increased participation in the program boosts federally funded reimbursements in money and government commodity foodstuffs that help keep costs low for your children’s meals.


    Prepaid accounts give parents and students the comfort that money is always available. Prepaying will eliminate forgotten lunches, spoiled lunches, and lost or forgotten money. All parents are encouraged to take part in this program. Checks for pre-paid lunches and breakfasts are to be made payable to NEW PALTZ SCHOOL FOOD SERVICES. Please see the attached for a copy of the New Paltz Central School District Charging School Meals Policy.


    BAG LUNCHES: Are available whenever a student goes on a class/field trip. Arrangements can be made in your child’s building cafeteria.


    BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PRICES 2019-2020


    BREAKFAST LUNCH:
    DUZINE & LENAPE DAILY $1.90 $2.90
    MIDDLE SCHOOL DAILY $2.15 $3.15
    HIGH SCHOOL DAILY $2.15 $3.15
    REDUCED RATES $.00 $.00
    STUDENT MILK $.60 $.60


    Please contact the School Food Service Office if you have any questions at 256-4050.


    Sincerely,


    Michael Robinson
    Food Service Director

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    Nondiscrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly.


    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:

    http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, 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: program.intake@usda.gov.


    This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

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    SUBJECT: CHARGING SCHOOL MEALS


    The Board of Education recognizes the importance of good nutrition and the impact on student learning. The Board of Education recognizes that, on occasion, students may not have enough funds to pay for a meal. To ensure that students do not go hungry, and minimize the fiscal burden to the District, the Board will allow students who do not have enough funds to “charge” the cost of meals to be paid back at a later date subject to the terms in this policy.


    1. All students may charge meals without limit;
    2. Only regular reimbursable meals may be charged, excluding extras, à la carte items, and snacks;
    3. All elementary and middle school student communications regarding unpaid meal charges shall be directly and solely with the parent/guardian (“parent”). No student in elementary or middle school will be told of unpaid meal charges.
    4. A computer-generated point of sale system which identifies and records all meals, allows for automatic replenishment, as well as collects repayments will be used. Parents are encouraged to utilize the automatic replenishment option; and
    5. Charged meals must be counted and claimed for reimbursement on the day that the student charged (received) the meal, not the day the charge is paid back. When charges are paid, these monies may not be considered “à la carte” transactions.


    When a student’s account balance is a negative balance and a meal is thereafter charged, the District will discreetly notify the parent of the balance, the process to refill the account, and the District’s policy on charging school meals. This notification will continue regularly until the account is replenished. Parents must repay all unpaid charges remaining at the end of the year or before their child leaves the district, whichever occurs first.


    The District shall also discreetly notify parents of students with ongoing negative balances of the application process for free and/or reduced price meals. If a parent regularly fails to provide meal money and does not qualify for free or reduced price meals, the District may take other actions as appropriate, including notifying the local department of social services if neglect is suspected.


    The District will consider the written request of a parent/guardian that his/her child not be permitted to charge school meals and not be provided with school meals or alternate meals, as long as the parent/guardian assures the District, in writing, that his/her child will bring lunch or will have money to purchase lunch each day. If the request is granted and the District becomes aware that a child does not have a lunch meal or the ability to purchase a school meal on a regular basis, the District will notify the parent/guardian of the circumstance and will take other actions as appropriate.


    The school District shall notify parents/guardians in writing on an annual basis, at the start of the school year, and to families transferring into the district during the year, of the requirements of this policy. The policy shall also be published on the District website and may be included, as appropriate, in other District publications. All staff involved in implementing and enforcing this policy shall also be notified of these requirements and their responsibilities.


    Unpaid Meal Charges and Debt Collection


    Unpaid meal charges shall be considered “delinquent” in accordance with the District’s accounting practices. The District shall attempt to recover unpaid meal charges before the end of the school year, but may continue efforts into the next school year. The District shall notify parents of unpaid meal charges at regular intervals, and may engage in collection activities. The District shall offer repayment plans, and may take other actions that do not result in harm or shame to the child, until unpaid charges are paid.


    Account Balances


    Remaining funds will be carried over to the next school year. When students leave the District or graduate, the District will attempt to contact the parents to return remaining funds. Parents may request, in writing, that funds be transferred to other students (e.g., siblings) or to unpaid accounts. Unclaimed funds remaining after three months may be absorbed by the school meal account.