8 Broadcaster Press September 5, 2017 www.broadcasteronline.com Education Department Announces Guidelines For 2017-18 Free Or Reduced School Meal Programs PIERRE, S.D. - Child and Adult Nutrition Services in the South Dakota Department of Education announces the policy for free milk or free and reduced price meals. The policy applies to children unable to pay the full price of meals or milk served under the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, and/or Special Milk Programs. The administrative office of each school that participates in the Lunch, Breakfast, and/or Milk Program has a copy of the policy available for review. Children from families whose income is at or below the levels shown are eligible for free or reduced price meals. Children from a household whose income is at or below the level shown for free meals may be eligible for free milk if the school participates in a federally funded pricing Special Milk Program. Families may apply for free or reduced price meals or free milk for their children for school year 2017-18 according to guidelines effective July 1, 2017. Applications will be provided to households by the school. Families that are directly certified as eligible for free meals will receive a notice of eligibility. The school will use the prior year’s eligibility status (free, reduced price or paid) from last year for up to the first 30 days of school or until a new application is approved or direct certification is obtained, whichever comes first. When the carry-over period ends, unless the household is notified that their children are directly certified or the household submits an application that is approved, the children must pay full price for school meals and the school will not send a reminder or a notice of expired eligibility. Households that are currently on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) will receive letters from the school indicating that their children are eligible for free school meals. These families should not complete an application for free meals. All children in a household where any household member receives benefits under TANF or SNAP are eligible for free meals. If any children were not listed on the notice of eligibility, the household should contact the local educational agency or school to have free meal benefits extended to them. Families receiving commodities through the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) can request an Interagency Action Notice that can be brought to the school in place of an application to document free meal eligibility, or they can complete an application and list the FDPIR case number. All children in a household with any household member receiving benefits under FDPIR are eligible for free meals. If the school knows of children who are homeless, runaway, foster, from a migrant household, or who are enrolled in Head Start, they will send a letter to the household telling them the children are eligible for free meals. Contact the school if the household does not get a letter because these children may be eligible for free meal benefits. The household must notify the school if it chooses to decline benefits. Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals. Any foster child in the household is eligible for free meals regardless of income. Households may include foster children on the application, but are not required to include payments received for care of the foster child as income. To apply for free or reduced price meals, other households should fill out the application and return it to the school. An application must include the names of children for whom benefits are requested, all household members and their monthly income or designation that they do not have any income, and be What everyone is reading. www.broadcasteronline.com www.plaintalk.net OakwOOd apartments Smoke Free 605.624.9557 • Rent adjusted to income • Large 2 & 3 bedroom w/AC • Off street parking • Large closets - one walk-in • On-site coin laundry • Playground equipment • Just Blocks from Campus, High School & Prentis Park 1200 E. Clark Street • Vermillion, SD signed by an adult household member with the last four digits of that person’s social security number. Incomplete applications cannot be approved for free and reduced price meals. Additional copies are available in the school office. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used for the purpose of determining eligibility status for school meals and Title I programs. The school will provide additional information if it wants to use eligibility status for other purposes. An eligibility determination is good for the whole school year; however, applications may be submitted at any time during the year. Contact the school if a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size changes. The children from that household may be eligible for free or reduced price meals or free milk during the time of unemployment if the household’s income falls within the income eligibility guidelines. Information on any application may be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program officials. If a parent or guardian is dissatisfied with the ruling on the application for eligibility, she/he may contact the determining official on an informal basis. If the parent or guardian wishes to make a formal appeal, an oral or written request may be made to the school’s hearing official for a hearing to appeal the decision. Some schools may choose to send a special notice about the Children's Health Insurance Program to households with the application. It provides a way for school personnel to know if families will allow them to use students' eligibility status for other program benefits. The decision whether or not a household is eligible for meal benefits or not is not affected by this form. Non-discrimination Statement: This explains what to do if you believe you have been treated unfairly. In accord- By Ann Schwader SDSU Extension Nutrition Field Specialist Grocery shopping for you and your family can add up, especially if you aim to stock your pantry with nutritious foods each week. Simple tips such as meal planning, using coupons, and shopping seasonally can help you stretch your food dollar. Saving money at the grocery store does not mean you have to give up your favorite nutritious foods. Here are some tips that you can use during your next grocery store run. Fruits & Vegetables • Buy produce that are in season – these will usually be less expensive. • Check dates and use what you can before it spoils. • Try canned fruits and vegetables. Canned fruit in 100% fruit juice or canned vegetables listed as “no salt added” are great alternatives and still offer many nutrients. • Frozen vegetables can also cost less and are just as good for you as fresh vegetables. These also last longer, as long as you have the freezer space to store them. Grains • Rice and pasta are great options that are Hartington Tree LLC TREE TRIMMING, REMOVALS & TRANSPLANTING TREES FOR SALE EVERGREEN • SHADE • ORNAMENTAL low-cost – try brown rice or whole grain pasta. Proteins • Low-cost options such as beans are a great source of protein included in a main dish or offered as a side dish. • Buy family-size packages of meat and freeze the unused food. Choose lean meats for healthier options. • Eggs are another great source of protein that are a low-cost food item. • Canned fish – such as tuna, salmon or sardines are perfect sources of protein that you can store for a long period of time. Dairy Products • Buy larger sizes of yogurt and add in your own fruit or flavors, instead of buying individual yogurts. Other tips • Save money by skipping the sweet treat or salty snack aisles. • Plan your weekly meals – make a list before heading to the store. • Try and use items that you already have. • Read sales flyers for weekly sales or coupons. • Store brands often offer products at a lower cost than name brand foods. Remember to include food choices from all 5 food groups for a wellbalanced meal. By building a healthy lifestyle, you can avoid problems associated with weight as well as reduce your risk from many chronic diseases. Have a Great Day Serving Southeast SD & Northeast NE for 20 Years - ROOFING - SIDING - LP Smart - Cement - Vinyl - Stone Kent & Kyle Hochstein • Licensed Arborists www.hartingtontree.com Make Yourself at Home. - GUTTERS - Heavy Duty Seamless - Gutter Guard - EXTERIOR PAINTING Sherwin-Williams Pro STORM RESTORATION - HAIL OR WIND Certified Installation Experts Call Steve or Karl 605-595-7809 • Vermillion, SD (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) mail: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider. If a child needs a special diet as prescribed by a doctor, the household should contact the school’s food service manager. Healthy Eating On A Budget Yankton 605-260-1490 Hartington 402-254-6710 Asphault Shingle - Steel - Flat - EPDM ance 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) 8778339. 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