By Mila Lira
The Superior Unified School District recently announced that all students in the district would receive a breakfast and lunch for free regardless of income status. The free meal program is a special program managed by the United States Department of Agriculture who manages the traditional school meal program.
The program is designed to help provide free meals for districts that have a high low to moderate income student population. The program will also streamline the paperwork process for the school district food service staff. It is expected that the program will be in effect for at least the next three years as well.
While there is not a qualification process for students to receive the free meals, parents still need to fill out and return the Free and Reduced Lunch Application. The district is still required to have those applications on file with the USDA.
School Superintendant Pete Guzman congratulated the SUSD Food Service staff for leading the efforts on applying for this status.
For many years, there were several students who did not qualify for a free or reduced lunch, which often created additional financial burdens for parents and guardians in the district. With the new program in place, all students can receive a nutritionally balanced free breakfast and lunch.
For more information, contact the Superior Unified School District Food Service Director Melissa Perez at 520-689-3110.