The annual income of a family of four must be less than $29,965 for school-age children to qualify for a free lunch in both the St. Clair R-XIII and the Lonedell R-XIV school districts for the upcoming academic year. For children to receive a reduced-price meal, the income has to be less than $42,643.
The two local districts recently announced their revised fee and reduced price criteria heading into the 2012-2013 academic year. The schedules are identical.
Children from families whose current income is at or below the established levels are eligible for either the free or reduced-price meals.
Applications to enroll in the program are available at both the St. Clair R-XIII central office on Bardot Street or the Lonedell School central office in that school.
Classes begin in both districts on Thursday.
Statistics from the two school districts showed that about 56 percent of students qualified for either the free or reduced lunch program at the end of the 2011-2012 academic year.
“With a mandated increase in meal prices for this year, I expect an increase in families participating in the National School Lunch Program,” Lonedell central office administrative assistant Stephanie York told The Missourian. “More families will qualify this year for free or reduced-price meals due to an increase from last year in the maximum household income on the income eligibility guidelines issued by the USDA.”
The income schedule includes household sizes ranging from one to eight as well as figures for each additional family member above eight.
There are separate income guidelines for free and reduced meal prices.
The guidelines in both districts are as follows:
Free Meals
•Household size 1: Maximum annual income to qualify, $14,521.
•Household size 2: Maximum annual income to qualify, $19,669.
•Household size 3: Maximum annual income to qualify, $24,817.
•Household size 4: Maximum annual income to qualify, $29,965.
•Household size 5: Maximum annual income to qualify, $35,113.
•Household size 6: Maximum annual income to qualify, $40,261.
•Household size 7: Maximum annual income to qualify, $45,409.
•Household size 8: Maximum annual income to qualify, $50,557.
•Each additional household member: Add $5,148.
Reduced-Price Meals
•Household size 1: Maximum annual income to qualify, $20,665.
•Household size 2: Maximum annual income to qualify, $27,991.
•Household size 3: Maximum annual income to qualify, $35,317.
•Household size 4: Maximum annual income to qualify, $42,643.
•Household size 5: Maximum annual income to qualify, $49,969.
•Household size 6: Maximum annual income to qualify, $57,295.
•Household size 7: Maximum annual income to qualify, $64,621.
•Household size 8: Maximum annual income to qualify, $71,947.
•Each additional household member: Add $7,326.
Information
If a family member becomes unemployed or if the family size changes, a new application should be filed.
Under the provisions of the policy, applications will be reviewed to determine eligibility. If a parent is dissatisfied with a ruling, he or she may contact either district’s central office.
For more information, contact St. Clair at 636-629-3500 or Lonedell at 636-629-4974.
