Diboll Independent School District offers healthy meals every school day

County News August 27, 2008

Children need healthy meals to learn. Diboll Primary and Temple Elementary Schools offer healthy meals every school day. Breakfast is free; lunch costs $1.50. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. Reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch.

This information is provided for parents to help in filling out the accompanying application.

1. Do I need to fill out an application for each child? No. Complete one 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: Child Nutrition Department, Lucy Rosales, 215 N. Temple Blvd., Diboll, TX 75941, (936) 829- 6104.

2. Who can get free meals? Children in households receiving Food Stamps or TANF can get free meals regardless of your income, Your benefit letter from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) is your documentation for free meals, If you have not already received a letter from your school stating that your household is eligible for free meals, you may take your HHSC benefit letter to your child nutrition office to be certified for free meals. Call the Child Nutrition Department at (936) 829-6104 if you have questions.

3. Should I fill out an application if I got a letter this school year saying my children are approved for free or reduced-price meals? In most cases no, however read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. Call the Child Nutrition Department at (936) 829-6104 if you have questions. If your household does not receive Food Stamps or TANF, your children may still be eligible to receive free meals if your household income is less than the amounts listed on the federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Please complete the application and submit it to your child nutrition office. Head Start students and most foster children may also qualify for free meals.

4. Can homeless, runaway and migrant children get free meals? Yes, If you have not been notified of free status under these categories, please call the Child Nutrition Department, (936) 8294104 to see if your child(ren) qualify.

5. Who can get reduced price meals? Your children can get low cost meals if your household income is within the reducedprice limits on the Federal Income Chart, included in this application packet.

6. I get WIC. Can my child(ren) get free meals? Children in households participating in WlC may be eligible for free or reducedprice meals. Please fill out an application.

7. Will the information I give be checked? Yes, we may ask you to send written proof.

8. If I don't qualify now, may I apply later? Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your household size goes up, income goes down, or if you start getting Food Stamps, TANF or other benefits.

9. 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: Gary Martel, 215 N. Temple Blvd., Diboll TX 75941 (936) 829-4718.

10. 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 a U.S. citizen to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

11. Who should I include as members of my household? You must include yourself and all people living in your household, related or not (such as children, grandparents, other relatives or friends).

12. What if my income is not always the same? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally get $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only got $900, put down that you get $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime pay, include that amount as income. If you do not normally get overtime pay, do not include it as income.

13. We are in the military; do we include our housing allowance as income? If your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. All other allowances must be included in your gross income.

If you have other questions or need help, call (936) 829-6104. Si necesita ayuda, por favor llame al teléfono: (936) 829-4104. Si vous voudriez d'eido, contacfez nous au numero: (936) 829-6104.

Sincerely, Janice Koether

Child Nutrition Director

Your children may qualify for free or reduced- price meals if your household income falls within the limits on this chart.

FEDERAL INCOME CHART
For School Year 2008-09
Household Yearly Monthly Weekly
Size
1 $19,240 $1,604 $370
2 $25,900 $2,159 $499
3 $32,560 $2,714 $627
4 $39,220 $3,269 $755
5 $45,880 $3,824 $883
6 $52,540 $4,379 $1,011
7 $59,200 $4,934 $1,139
8 $65,860 $5,489 $1,267
Each Additional person
$6,660 $555 $129