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Meal Charge Policy

The Trenton Public Schools District Food Services Department has an established meal charge policy in place for all students. The purpose of having a meal charging policy enables our schools to establish consistent and clear food service account procedures throughout the district. It allows the district to maintain fiscal integrity and solvency of the food service department while providing meal options that meet the nutritional needs of our students. We understand that although efforts to keep a child’s food service account in a positive standing are there, we understand that there are times where parents may forget or other unforeseen circumstances can occur. Meal charging shall be used as a temporary solution only and do not address a parent/guardian’s inability to pay. In those instances, an application for free or reduced meal benefits should be completed and turned in to the food service office. A la carte purchasing will be suspended for those accounts in the negative.

Parents with students who have a negative balance will receive an email weekly regarding the balance. Depending on the circumstances, parents may receive phone calls regarding the negative account balance. In the event of a lack of communication with the parent, building administration will be notified in an effort to help us reach you. 

We will never make a child dispose of a meal due to a negative balance. 

 We will never speak to a child regarding a negative balance unless they ask, and we will never do so in a public way.  We understand the balance is the responsibility of the parent and not the child.

We prohibit the requiring of students who cannot pay for a school meal or who owe a negative balance to wear a wristband or handstamp.

We prohibit the requiring of students who cannot pay for a school meal or who owe a negative balance to perform chores or other work to pay for school meals.

Meal Charge Policy .pdf

Our school offers healthy meals each day. For school year 2024-25, we are joining the Michigan School Meals Program. All students can get one breakfast and one lunch free of charge each day at school. Although no application is required to receive this free meal benefit, filling out the Child Nutrition and Education Benefits Application is still important! Your child(ren) may qualify for other benefits like reduced fees at school. Your application may also help the school qualify for education funds, discounts, and other programs.

1. WHO CAN GET ADDITIONAL EDUCATION BENEFITS?
• All children in households receiving benefits from the Food Assistance Program (FAP), Family
Independence Program (FIP), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations
(FDPIR) are eligible.
• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible.
• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible.
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible.
• Children may receive education benefits if your household’s income is within the limits of the
Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines on this chart.

FEDERAL INCOME ELIGIBILITY CHART for School Year 2024-2025
Household Size Annually Monthly Weekly

Federal Income Eligibility Chart for School Year 2024-2025

Household Size	Annually	Monthly	Weekly
1	27,861	2,322	536
2	37,814	3,152	728
3	47,767	3,981	919
4	57,720	4,810	1,110
5	67,673	5,640	1,302
6	77,626	6,469	1,493
7	87,579	7,299	1,685
8	97,532	8,128	1,876
Each additional person:	9,953	830	192

2. HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDREN QUALIFY AS HOMELESS, MIGRANT, OR RUNAWAY? Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and have not been told your children will get free meals, please call or e-mail Andrea Thorn, 734-692-4530 thorna@trentonschools.com.

3. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD? No. Use one application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to: Trenton Schools Administrative Office 2603 Charlton Rd, MI 48183.

4. SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE ALREADY APPROVED THROUGH DIRECT CERTIFICATION? No, but please read the letter you received carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact Brian Bahr 734-379-7620 bahrb@gibdist.net immediately.

5. CAN I APPLY ONLINE? Yes! You are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application if you are able. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Visit www.trentonschools.comto begin or to learn more about the online application process. Contact Brian Bahr 734-379-7620 bahrb@gibdist.net if you have any questions about the online application.

6. MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE? Yes.
Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year, through October 14, 2024. You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year. If you do not send in a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible, you will not receive additional education benefits and your school could lose out on additional funding.

7. I GET WIC. DO I NEED TO COMPLETE AND APPLICATION? Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for supplemental benefits. Please send in an application.

8. WILL THE INFORMATION I GIVE BE CHECKED? Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.

9. IF I DON’T QUALIFY NOW, MAY I APPLY LATER? Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible if the household income drops below the income limit.

10. WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE SCHOOL’S DECISION ABOUT MY APPLICATION? You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to: Trenton Administrative Office, 2603 Charlton Trenton MI 48183 734-676-8600.

11. MAY I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSEHOULD IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN? Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply.

12. WHAT IF MY INCOME IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME? List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime occasionally. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.

13. WHAT IF SOME HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE NO INCOME TO REPORT? Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application or may not receive income at all.
Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or
blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we
will assume you meant to do so.
14. WE ARE IN THE MILITARY; DO WE REPORT OUR INCOME DIFFERENTLY? Your basic pay and cash
bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pays resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.

15. WHAT IF THERE ISN’T ENOUGH SPACE ON THE APPLICATION FOR MY FAMILY? List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper and attach it to your application. Contact Trenton Administrative Office 734-676-8600 to receive a second application.

16. MY FAMILY NEEDS MORE HELP. ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS WE MIGHT APPLY FOR? To find out how to apply for Food Assistance Program (FAP) or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office https://newmibridges.michigan.gov/s/isd-partnershiplanding?language=en_US.

If you have other questions or need help, call 734-379-7620.          

Sincerely,
Brian Bahr, DDS

• The Food Service Department has set goals to ensure the success of the program and they are as follows:

  • To provide our students with a healthy, flavorful meal.
  • To treat all students with dignity and confidentiality in the serving line.
  • To ensure that no child goes hungry.
  • To foster open and clear communication with staff, students and parents/guardians.
  • To maintain the charge policy consistently throughout the district regarding meal charges.

Wellness Policy

• Trenton Public Schools Wellness Policy

  Trenton Public Schools is committed to creating a balance between education and health.

• Wellness Policy Assessment Tool

  Information on wellness policy goals and practices within the LEA.