Student meal policy guidelines updated
The Cherry Valley-Springfield, Edmeston, Laurens, Milford, Schenevus and Worcester Central School districts, which are component districts of Otsego-Northern Catskills BOCES, announced they amended their policy for serving meals for children served under the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for the 2025-2026 school year, which would allow for all children at all schools/sites to be served meals at no charge.
The Cooperstown Central School District announced in a separate news release, 'effective July 1, 2025, New York state schools participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program will offer reimbursable meals to students at no cost. Cooperstown CSD participates in NSLP and/or SBP.' It asks that parents fill out an application to determine student eligibility based on the federal income eligibility criteria.
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex — including gender identity and sexual orientation — disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information, e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.
To file a program discrimination complaint, a complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, which can be obtained online at: https://tinyurl.com/3cndazt3, from any USDA office, by calling 866-632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA.
The letter must contain the complainant's name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or email: Program.Intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
For more information, parents may contact their children's school's food service director or Jennifer Avery, deputy superintendent, ONC BOCES, at 607-286-7715, Ext. 3325.
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