The Chilton County School system has announced its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children served in schools under the Local School Food Authority, the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program.

Local school officials have adopted the following household size and income criteria for determining eligibility showin the table above.

Parents: If your total current household income is within the limits listed above, your children may be eligible for either free or reduced-price meals.

They may apply by completing the application forms sent home with a letter to parents. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office in each school. The information provided on the application is confidential and will be used only for the purpose of determining eligibility. The information on the application may be verified at any time during the program year. Applications may be submitted any time during the school year.

In accordance with program regulations, school officials will be verifying the income of some households at some time during the school year. Selected households will be requested to provide income documentation in order to continue receiving free and reduced-priced meals.

The Social Security number must be provided for the primary wage earner or household member who signs the application. Aliens ineligible for Social Security numbers should indicate their status on the application.

In certain cases, foster children are also eligible for these benefits. If a family has such children living with them and wishes to apply for such meals for them, they should contact the school.

In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age or disability.

Under the provision of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Tracy Edwards, Child Nutrition Program secretary, will review the applications and determine eligibility.

If a parent is dissatisfied with the ruling or the official, he may wish to discuss it in more detail with that official. If a parent wishes to review the ruling further after discussing it with the school, he has a right to a fair hearing. This can be done by making a request either orally or in writing to Keith Moore, superintendent of education, whose address is 1705 Lay Dam Road, Clanton, AL 35045.

Hearing procedures are outlined in the free and reduced-price meal policy.

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size changes, the household should contact the school to file a new application. Such changes may take the children of the household eligible for free or reduced-price meals if the household income falls at or below the level shown above.

A complete copy of the policy is on file in each school and in the office of the superintendent, where it may be reviewed by any interested party.

All questions on the free and reduced-price application must be completed. Failure to include information on household members, income or food stamp case number, information on Social Security, and the signature of an adult household member will result in the denial of benefits.