Dear Parents/Guardians,
For the last five years, students in Belle Elementary and Bland Middle School have received free breakfast and free lunch based on the district’s participation in CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) from the US Department of Agriculture and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
This program is reviewed every five years by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Food and Nutrition Office. To remain eligible, our district needed to continue to have at least 40% of our families receive Food Stamp Program/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance/Temporary assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits through the Department of Health and Senior Services. We currently do not meet the high participation rate to continue with this program. The eligibility is not based on how many of our students qualify for free and reduced meals by application but on the percentage of our student population that qualify for the above listed programs.
Beginning in the 2023-2024 school year, students who do not meet the free or reduced price eligibility set by US Department of Agriculture will be required to pay for their breakfast and lunch. Prices will remain the same for the new school year: $1.20 for full priced breakfast and $2.00 for full priced lunch. Snack will continue to be provided daily to all students through the Snack Program (DHSS).
We want to encourage ALL parents to complete the free/reduced lunch application that is being mailed to you on Tuesday. We want all families eligible to receive free or reduced meal prices to receive their children’s meals at a reduced or free price. The free/reduced lunch application can be mailed to rwillis@mariesr2.org or dropped off at school. If you already receive one of the above listed programs (SNAP or TANF), you will be directly certified for free lunches and do not have to submit an application. Foster children may be eligible regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside. The application will be available online beginning August 1, 2023. To apply for the Suuplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) program, you can apply online at https://mydss.mo.gov/food-assi...
If you have any questions, please contact Beki Willis in the Administration Office. We appreciate your cooperation!
Dr. Lenice Basham
Superintendent