Bellevue Schools announces lunch policy

BELLEVUE — Bellevue Schools announced its policy regarding lunch and milk costs for the upcoming school year. Students' free or reduced meals and milk are served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast, After School Care Snack or Special Milk Programs. Each of the district's buildings has a copy of the policy in its central office and can be reviewed by anyone interested. The state's budget for the 2025-26 school year includes funding for reduced breakfast and lunch for students, which allows schools to offer meals either free of cost or at a lower cost to eligible students. Eligibility for meals is determined by the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Students whose families' annual income is at or below the guidelines are eligible for meals or milk from the district that participates in the Special Milk Program. Applications are sent home to parents and guardians and additional copies are available in each school's principal's office. Homes that receive Special Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits or Ohio Works First for a child must give the student's name, the SNAP or Ohio Works First case number and an adult household member's signature. Homes that do not recive SNAP or Ohio Works First must give names of all household members, the last four digits of the Social Security Number belonging to the adult signing the form or state "none" if they do not have a number, the amount and sources of income received by all household members and a signature from an adult household member. If any information is missing, the district cannot process the form. Submissions will be confidential. Homes will be notified if they are approved or denied from participating. Children in foster care are eligible for meals regardless of their household's income. For foster families who wish to apply, Jackie Hess, the district's food service director, will review these applications. Applications can be submitted at any time of the year. If a home is not eligible when initially submitting a form, then circumstances change, they should contact the district to file a new form. Free health care Families who are eligible for school meals may also be eligible for free health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio's Healthy Start & Healthy Families programs. Through these programs, students could receive coverage for doctor visits, immunizations, physicals, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and more. More information and applications are available by calling 1-800-324-8680. Information can also be found at jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/familychild.stm. Anyone with an Ohio Medicaid card already receives these services.