Sylvania Schools offers free and reduced-price meal plans

Sylvania Schools has announced its 2012-2013 policy for free and reduced-price meals for students unable to pay the full price of meals served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program.

The policy can be reviewed at each school or the district’s administrative office.

The Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines are used to determine eligibility. Children from families whose annual income is at or below the federal guidelines are eligible.

Application forms are available on the school Web site, www.sylvaniaschools.org, or in the school principal’s office. To apply, residents return a completed application to the school.

Households which receive Special Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits (formally known as food stamps) or Ohio Works First (OWF) funds for a child must provide the child’s name, and the special federal program case number, and signature of an adult household member.

Households which do not receive benefits from one of these programs are required to provide names of all household members; the last four digits of the Social Security Number of the adult signing the application or state “none” if the adult does not have a Social Security Number; the amount and source of income received by each household member (state the monthly income), and the signature of an adult household member. If any of this information is missing, the school cannot process the application.

Meanwhile, families with children eligible for school meals may be eligible for free health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio’s Healthy Start & Healthy Families programs.

These programs include coverage for doctor visits, immunizations, physicals, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and more.

Please call 1-800-324-8680 for more information or to request an application. Information can also be found on the web at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/familychild.stm. Anyone who has an Ohio Medicaid card is already receiving these services.

The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program official. Deliberate misrepresentation of information may subject the applicant to prosecution under applicable state and federal laws.

Households will be notified of the approval or denial of benefits.

Foster children are categorically eligible for free meal benefits regardless of the household’s income. If a family has foster children living with them and wish to apply for such meals or milk for them, contact the school for more information.

Under the provision of the policy, Tammy Mallue, food service secretary, will review applications and determine eligibility.

If a parent or guardian disagrees with the decision on the application or the result of verification, the decision may be discussed with the determining official on an informal basis. If a formal appeal is desired, the household has the right to a fair hearing. A fair hearing can be requested either orally or in writing from Joseph Shamy, Food Service Director, 4747 N. Holland-Sylvania Rd., Sylvania, Ohio 43560.

Application and income tables are available online at www.sylvaniaschools.org.