At Numa Elementary and other district schools, the meal program not only offers healthy choices and breakfast but for families who qualify, meals are free or at a reduced price.
Churchill County School District offers free and reduced price meals to students in households with incomes less than or equal to the federal income eligibility guidelines, and the application deadline is Sept. 29.
Applications (also available in Spanish) are available at www.churchill.k12.nv.us or at the Food Service Office in the West End Complex on 280 S. Russell St. One application per family per school year needs to be returned to one of the child(ren)’s teacher(s). Call 775-428-2700 with questions.
Regardless of eligibility, breakfast and lunch are served at all schools with free breakfast for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.
“We encourage all families to participate in the federal school lunch and breakfast program,” said Phyllys Dowd, director of business services and responsible for the food program. “We feel good nutrition is very important, and we’re happy to be able to serve our students.”
If a family qualified last year, that status remains in effect through Sept. 28. If a new application isn’t processed, families are responsible for paying all meal charges starting Sept. 29.
Children already on assistance programs or classified as homeless, migrant, runaway or enrolled in an eligible head start or pre-kindergarten program, automatically qualify for free or reduced price meals. Foster children automatically qualify for free meals. Recorded applications are still necessary.
The district has an online payment system that also offers meal and à la carte item purchase tracking using student ID numbers. If families prefer to send cash with students, they may purchase their meals or add to their accounts; however, change isn’t given at elementary schools. All checks sent will be added to accounts without change given.
There are also online menus, photos as well as nutrition and allergen information, which are also available through the app Nutrislice.
The district’s new meal provider is Chartwells, the world’s largest contract food service provider.
The district is participating in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program and After School Snack Program.