The Gilmer County School System is urging families in need to complete the free and reduced lunch applications this week.
A student’s free and reduced status from last school year carries over 30 days into the 2020-2021 school year, which means the deadline for applications is Friday, Sept. 18.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture passed an emergency measure Sept. 1 to provide free meals to all students attending in-person instruction through the end of the calendar year. So while Gilmer students will still receive free meals through December, those eligible who have not filled out free and reduced lunch applications will have their benefits expire in 2021.
“We really need them to fill it out because our Title I funding is based around our free and reduced numbers,” superintendent Dr. Shanna Downs said at Monday’s board of education work session.
“If those parents do not fill those out because we’re giving out free meals until December, I’m worried about losing some of our Title I funding we depend on to function. We still have to be very vigilant with asking our families to fill those out if they qualified the year before or are going through a hard financial time.”
Applications have been mailed and the school system has notified parents by phone. Parents may come by the central office if they need assistance filling out the application.
The school system is also encouraging students to take advantage of free meals through December. More meals served equates to more money for the system.
“It’s kind of an extension of Seamless Summer where we get to claim all of lunches for students and all of our breakfasts at the free rate,” said school nutrition director Linda Waters.
“That is significant because the paid student reimbursement that we get for lunch is $.42. If we claim them all at free, which we will, it’s $3.60.”
Waters added, “The same thing for breakfast. Even though we do a provision breakfast where it’s at no cost to students, we still only get to claim them a percentage free, a percentage paid and a percentage reduced. The free breakfast reimbursement is $2.26.
“Needless to say, every lunch and breakfast we serve is quite profitable. We’re really encouraging our students — even if they bring a lunch box from home — to come through and at least get a sandwich and a piece of fruit or a juice. That’s considered reimbursable as a full meal.”