Free, reduced meals available
Adult household member must make application

The Jasper Independent School District's provides free and reducedprice meals for children under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program. Each school or the central kitchen has a copy of the policy, available for review.

Children from households whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Foster children who are the legal responsibility of a welfare agency or court may also be eligible for benefits regardless of the income of the household with whom they reside.

Application forms are being distributed to all households and are available at the principal's office and cafeteria in each school. Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information provided on the application will be used for determining eligibility and verification of data.

Households receiving Food Stamps/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) only have to list their child's name and food stamp or TANF case number. An adult household member must sign the application.

Households that do not list a Food Stamp/TANF case number must list the names of all household members, the amount and source of income received by each member, and the Social Security number of the adult who signs the application; if they do not have a Social Security number, the household member must indicate by writing the word "None," "No Number," or some indication that the person does not have a Social Security number. Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, the Director of Child Nutrition, the Financial Specialist, the Records/Programs Coordinator, or a Cafeteria Manager will review applications and determine eligibility.

Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the official may wish to discuss the decision with the reviewing official on an informal basis. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request either orally or in writing to:

Bill "Butch" Dean, Superintendent of Schools, 128 Park Street, Jasper, TX 75951, 384-2401.

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school. Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household's income falls at or below the levels shown above.