SNS – KPBSD Communications Field Notes

FREE meals for KPBSD students through the end of 2020

News Release: FREE School breakfast and lunch meals for students enrolled in KPBSD onsite or 100% remote learning options

9/18/20 UPDATE: KPBSD Connections Homeschool students are now eligible for FREE meal program! Pickup is once-a-week, the same as the 100% Remote Learning Option students.*

The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District is thrilled to assist families, and provide FREE meals to students through December 31, 2020, or until USDA funds are depleted. This benefit is for students who attend school onsite or via 100% remote learning with their KPBSD school. Plus, it is retroactive to the beginning of the school year in August, so any purchased meals between August 24 and September 18, 2020, will be refunded to student accounts.

What do you need to do to receive free meals?
Nothing. Meals are free at KPSBD schools that provide breakfast and-or lunch.

Important action:
Everyone can help funding to the school district when they complete an online application for Free and Reduced Meals by October 1, even if they won’t use the benefit. This data determines significant federal benefits to KPBSD, and qualifies communities for federal funds.

Online Application: Parents or guardians must reapply each year for free or reduced meal benefits

Parents are encouraged to continue filling out 2020-2021 meal applications so they will not be dropped from the meal program on October 6, 2020, and will have benefits when the free meal program is discontinued. This year, all applications will be accepted online through the new state portal at http://mealapp.kpbsd.org. If someone does not have access to the internet, each school will have a few paper applications in the school office.

Get It and Go Meals will be provided to families who choose 100% Remote Learning with their KPBSD School, and available for pickup once a week at the school. Preorder meals by 12:00 each Friday for the following week pickup on Wednesday. If a KPBSD school shifts to high COVID19 risk and becomes 100% Remote, all students will also be able to receive Get It and Go Meals.

Homeschool students are not eligible for Get It and Go Meals, or the free meal program.

*ORDER MEALS EVERY WEEK BY 12:00 NOON on FRIDAY
Complete the simple online sign-up for lunch and breakfast meals. If you do not have access to the internet, call KPBSD Student Nutrition Services at 907-714-8890.
100% Remote Learning Students and Connections Homeschool students pickup is once a week: Wednesday from 10:00-10:30 AM

Student Nutrition Services website

National School Lunch Program in KPBSD Schools

Soldotna, July 30, 2019—The Kenai Peninsula Borough School District (KPBSD) participates in the National School Lunch Program. Applications for free and reduced meals are currently being accepted. Meals will be available to all children at these schools:
Chapman School; Fireweed Academy; Homer High School; Homer Middle School; Kalifornsky Beach Elementary; Kaleidoscope School of Arts and Science; Kenai Alternative High School; Kenai Central High School; Kenai Middle School; McNeil Canyon Elementary; Moose Pass School; Mountain View Elementary; Nikiski Middle-High School; Nikiski North Star Elementary; Ninilchik School; Paul Banks Elementary; Redoubt Elementary; River City Academy; Seward Elementary; Seward High School; Seward Middle School; Skyview Middle School; Soldotna Elementary; Soldotna High School; Soldotna Montessori; Sterling Elementary; Susan B. English School; Tustumena Elementary; and West Homer Elementary.
KPBSD Student Nutrition Services webpage: http://bit.ly/StudentNutritionServices
Meals meet nutritional standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Our schools will participate in the National School Lunch Program, After School Snack, and School Breakfast Program.
Meal Prices
Full pay breakfast for K-12^th $2.00 Breakfast $.00 for students approved for reduced meals
Full pay elementary lunch $3.00 Full pay secondary lunch $3.50
Reduced price lunch for K-12^th grade $.40
Community Eligible Meals
Students at Homer Flex; Pt. Graham; Nanwalek; Tebughna; and Nikolaevsk qualify for the Community Eligibility Meal program that allows all students to eat a free meal for both breakfast and lunch. Families with students that attend these schools or attend a school that does not have a National School Lunch or Breakfast Program will not fill out the School Meals Application but will fill out the Income Declaration Form.
Parents and Guardians
If your income is less than or equal to the following guidelines you are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. These guidelines are effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. If you have children who are approved for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) formerly known as Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Native Family Assistance Program (NFAP), they are automatically able to receive free meals by filing an application that includes their assistance number from one of those programs. Students who are migrant, homeless, or runaways are automatically eligible and do not need to fill out an application. Foster children receive free meals regardless of the income of the household with which they reside. Note: Medicaid and Denali Kid Care case numbers do not qualify for eligibility.
Link
KPBSD Student Nutrition Services webpage: http://bit.ly/StudentNutritionServices
PDF: July 30, 2019 news release: National School Lunch Program in KPBSD schools

Alaska Income Eligibility Guidelines

July 1, 2019- June 30, 2020

REDUCED PRICE MEALS FREE MEALS
185% Federal Poverty Guidelines 130% Federal Poverty Guidelines

Yearly	Monthly	Weekly	Family Size	Yearly	Monthly	Weekly
28,860	1) 2,405	555	1	20,280	1) 1,690	390
39,091	2) 3,258	752	2	27,469	2) 2,290	529
49,321	3) 4,111	949	3	34,658	3) 2,889	667
59,552	4) 4,963	1,146	4	41,847	4) 3,488	805
69,782	5) 5,816	1,342	5	49,036	5) 4,087	943
80,013	6) 6,668	1,539	6	56,225	6) 4,686	1,082
90,243	7) 7,521	1,736	7	63,414	7) 5,285	1,220
100,474	8) 8,373	1,933	8	70,603	8) 5,884	1,358

For more information, or to get an application for free or reduced-price school meals, contact KPBSD Student Nutrition Services, 139 Park Avenue, Soldotna AK 99669, or call 907-714-8832. Applications cannot be processed and determined until fully completed. Information provided on applications are subject to verification at any time.
You may apply for meal benefits at any time during the school year if your situation changes. If you become unemployed, your child or children may be able to have free or reduced priced meals based on your unemployment income. If we deny your free or reduced price meals application, we will give you a chance to appeal the decision.

Non-Discrimination Statement:
In accordance 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, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, 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) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
fax: (202) 690-7442; or email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Student Success Quietly Built on School Breakfast Success

Student success quietly built on school breakfast success: 1,000 times every school day
Each KPBSD school day, about an hour before the first bell, dedicated Student Nutrition Services (SNS) staff members quietly begin the preparation for School Breakfast Service. As the breakfast preparation begins in the 34 KPBSD schools that sponsor a National School Breakfast Program (NSBP), ovens warm up, coolers are opened, and serving lines are filled with cereals, fruits, juices, hot entrees and of course the ubiquitous half pint milk.

school lunch — A KPBSD SNS breakfast included a hot breakfast quesadilla, strawberry cup, orange juice and milk.

By the time breakfast service is completed 1,000 KPBSD students will have participated in the early morning nutrition opportunity.
As the students quietly pass through the serving line, the SNS team guides them through the selection offered breakfast items. And the adult servers offer up a warm, good morning and, Are you ready for school today?
USDA Breakfast Friends at Mountain View Elementary
Older siblings and friends help younger brothers, sisters, and friends who sometimes proceed sleepily through the line. They help unzip coats, and ensure they select the proper mix of items for their USDA Breakfast.
During the actual eating time for breakfast, it is quiet in the service area.
Sometimes a little homework gets done.
Sometimes, students come back to the serving line and whisper a request for a second portion of breakfast. SNS staff smile and comply.

SNS Breakfast Program Manager Ginger Self very successfully keeps record of student breakfast accounts. Ginger prepares the breakfast offering before stepping into role as cashier.

As students proceed to their class, having consumed a nutrient powerful breakfast of whole grain, low sodium, protein perfect foods, some ask What’s for lunch?
When students depart the serving area, SNS members complete the clean-up and the record keeping required for breakfast service. And then the prep begins for the thousands of USDA lunches to be provided four hours later.
National School Breakfast Week is in March!
We invite you to join in the breakfast success at any of the 34 KPBSD schools that sponsor a National School Breakfast Program.
*Update: payment for student nutrition services can now be accepted online at all KPBSD schools. Click here: http://bit.ly/KPBSDonlinePayments
SNS menus and information: http://bit.ly/StudentNutritionServicesKPBSD
“In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

School lunch time!

Happy to be at school today! Feeding body, mind and spirit!

I visited one of our local elementary schools during lunch time today. I’d forgotten how much interaction, conversation, and social buzz happens during meal time! In addition, we can be proud of the KPBSD Student Nutrition Services team–do you know that KPBSD serves more than 3,000 school lunches everyday? And 1,000 breakfasts? The nutritious lunch meal smelled delicious. Maple grazed french toast, sausage–breakfast for lunch, a favorite of mine–was on the menu. Next week, the beef and black bean tacos sound yummy. Wish we had KPBSD food service at the district office!

A lot of conversation--much like all friends share at meal times

Table manners! He's so polite--smiled, then covered his mouth to finish his grapes.

The National School Lunch Program began in 1946 when Congress passed the National School Lunch Act, and the National School Breakfast program began in 1966.

Thirty-three million public school students are served a hot lunch in the United States, every day school is in session.

Kudos to the hard-working KPBSD Student Nutrition Services staff!
Menus and more: KPBSD Student Nutrition Services