Free Meals for Students Start March 1
FEB. 28, 2023 — Due to the Federal Free Meal Program, created to feed children at school during the peak of the pandemic, and higher than average reimbursement rates related to the program, an audit determined that the District’s Food Service budget carried an excess fund balance.
In January, the District submitted a plan to pay down the fund balance, which the State Education Department’s Office of Child Nutrition recently approved.
As a result, and effective March 1, Midlakes schools will offer a full menu of free breakfast and lunch to all students through the end of the current academic year (June 2023). These funds can only be used for certain expenditures relating to our Food Services Department and not for other areas of our District.
Families having any questions regarding this change, may contact Director of Food and Nutrition Jil Swarthout at (315) 548-6415 or jswarthout@midlakes.org.
Supply Chain Issues Affecting School Meal Menus
OCT. 5, 2022 — While Midlakes Food Service Department continues to prepare wholesome meals for students at breakfast and lunch, unprecedented supply chain issues affecting many schools in our region are forcing weekly changes to our published school meal menus with little or no notice.
The Food Services team is working closely with our distributors and manufacturers to secure the necessary food and supplies needed to support our program, which served approximately 265,000 total meals from July 2021 - June 2022. However, in some cases, complete orders are not delivered.
While we intend to serve the items posted each day for our meals, this might not be possible until supply chain issues are solved. We expect these issues to last for months, if not the entire school year. When possible, our Food Services team will substitute the scheduled menu item with one that is similar.
Also, we will begin posting weekly meal menus. Please see the "School Menu" button to the left on this page for our latest menus. You can also click on "Lunch Menus" under the Parents dropdown menu at Midlakes.org for a link to our meal menus and other Food Service updates found on this page.
Our goal is to have accurate menus posted no later than the night before the next day’s meal. We will work diligently to achieve this goal despite supply chain issues.
We know this disruption will be inconvenient for many of our families. Please know that we are working hard on this issue and appreciate your patience! If you have questions or need to fill out a Free and Reduced Lunch Application, please visit us online at https://www.midlakes.org/foodservice or contact Jil Swarthout, Director of Food and Nutrition at (315) 548-6415 or jswarthout@midlakes.org.
The Federal Free Meal Program Has Ended
SEPT. 19, 2022 — The Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District Food Services Department again offers low-cost meals for all students, regardless of age, now that the federal program providing free meals has expired.
As a result, only those students qualifying for SNAP/Medicaid benefits or those who submit a free and reduced meal application and qualify can receive free meals. Benefits are dependent on household size and income. Families may find more information on these services at Midlakes.org/FoodService and https://www.ny.gov/services/apply-snap.
Under the National School Lunch Program, students qualifying for benefits and bringing their lunch into school do not qualify to receive free milk. However, milk is free if the student has a full meal.
Breakfast will be $1.50, and lunch is $2.70 for the 2022-2023 school year. Milk without the purchase of a meal is 60 cents.
Families with questions can call the Midlakes Food Service Department at (315) 548-6415 or email FoodService@Midlakes.org.
MySchool Bucks Opens Aug. 20
Aug. 16, 2022 — Families can resume making meal payments through MySchoolBucks, an online pre-payment system for school meals, beginning August 20.
School breakfast and lunch menus have been posted for both schools under School Meals. For the 2022-2023 academic year, lunch for students will be $2.70 and $1.50 for breakfast. To learn more about MySchoolBucks visit https://www.midlakes.org/Page/1147.
Free and Reduced-Priced Meal Applications Available
JUNE 30, 2022 — Free and reduced forms must be filled out and returned by the beginning of each school year, and only one form is needed per family. Students will automatically roll over to a fully paid plan until an application is processed. Forms in English and Spanish are available under the "Forms" tab on this page.
Families receiving a "Direct Certification Letter" can drop it off at school, or mail it directly to:
ATTN: JIL SWARTHOUT
CAFÉ BUILDING NO. 3
1550 STATE ROUTE 488
CLIFTON SPRINGS, NY 14432
Under the Healthy, Hungry Kids Act, the school district is working to ensure that all school-aged children are offered healthier, more nutritious, and greater varieties of food choices in our schools. New State and National Regulatory Requirements under the Final Rule “Nutrition Standards in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs also are currently in place.
Share questions or concerns with Jil Swarthout at (315) 548-6415 or jswarthout@midlakes.org.
May 2022 Food Service Update
MAY 25, 2022 — In anticipation of the start of the 2022 summer school year, the Food Service Department wanted to share an important update regarding our child nutrition program this summer.
The federal waiver program providing free school meals to all students is set to expire on June 30, 2022. As a result, only those students qualifying for SNAP/Medicaid benefits or those who submit a free and reduced meal application can qualify, based upon household income, to receive free meals after the waiver program expires. These forms are available to download below.
Please submit the free and reduced meal application, located in your Summer Skills packet, no later than June 24, 2022, if your family does not currently qualify for SNAP or Medicaid benefits.
Midlakes is dedicated to ensuring that all students have access to nutritional meals and will offer all students attending the Summer Skills program a breakfast consisting of cereal, milk, juice, and a snack for $1.50.
If you have any questions regarding the child nutrition program at Midlakes, please contact Food Service Director Jil Swarthout at (315) 548-6415 or foodservice@midlakes.org.
EBT Food Benefits
The Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District does not administer the P-EBT food benefits program, which provides temporary benefits to households with children who would have received free school lunches under the National School Act, if not for a reduction of in-person learning due to the pandemic. For more information on P-EBT food benefits for New York State residents, call 1-888-328-6399 or visit https://otda.ny.gov/SNAP-COVID-19/Frequently-Asked-Questions-Pandemic-EBT.asp.
