Stow-Munroe Falls ends Covid program that offered free lunch to all students

The Stow-Munroe Falls City School District ended its pandemic-era policy of providing free meals for all students.

The program, which provided students throughout the district free breakfast, lunch and milk under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, expired at the end of the 2021-22 school year in June.

The price of school meals has also been increased from pre-pandemic costs (see table).

Families can apply to see if they qualify to continue to receive free or reduced-cost meals.

“We have been blessed to offer all of our students free meals for the last few years due to the nationwide program,” Superintendent Tom Bratten said. “This year, right alongside so many other districts, we are working to get the word out to families that, unfortunately, the meals are no longer free so that they can plan accordingly.”

Meals were previously provided free of charge, beginning with picked-up meals in April 2020. In-school meals were provided free of charge during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years.

“We are strongly encouraging families to fill out the Free/Reduced application on our website and in their FinalForms so that they can maximize their benefits,” Bratten said. “We hope that students who have enjoyed their free lunches for the last few years will continue to buy breakfast and lunch each day.”

To see if families qualify for free or reduced-price meals, they can fill out an online application at www.payschoolscentral.com or visit the Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools website at https://www.smfschools.org/ to get a printable copy on the Nutrition Services page. However, if a family needs a paper copy, they can contact their school office or the Nutrition Services office at 330-689-5241.

The Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines will be used to determine eligibility. Children from families whose annual income is at or below the federal guidelines are eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

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 wishes to apply for such meals, contact the school for more information.

Guidelines in a press release from SMF Schools read as follows: “Application forms are distributed to all homes in a letter to parents or guardians. To apply for free and reduced-price benefits, households should complete an application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available at the school offices. A complete application is required. Households which currently receive Special Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP) or Ohio Works First (OWF) funds for a child must provide the child’s name, the SNAP or OWF case number, and signature of an adult household member on the application. Households that do not receive SNAP or OWF funds must provide the 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.”

Free health care

Families with students eligible for school meals may qualify 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.

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