Franklin Public Schools: Letter to Community regarding Meals at no cost to students

Dear Parents/Guardians and Caregivers,

As the start of the school year approaches, we are excited to share updates regarding school meals. Earlier this month, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts voted to make universal free school meals for all students permanent. This means that breakfast and lunch will continue to be served at no cost to all students through the 2023 - 2024 school year!

Please note that even though meals will be free for all, it is important for families to still complete the Household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2023-2024 school year if you believe you might qualify.

You can view and complete the application here: {https://linqconnect.com/}.

We strongly encourage families to submit this form as it allows us to establish eligibility for P-EBT benefits, waive transportation fees and other district fees for those who qualify, and serve families most effectively.

In addition, please consider applying for SNAP, the federal nutrition program that provides eligible residents with monthly financial assistance to purchase groceries. More SNAP information can be found at gettingsnap.org or by calling Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333.

Finally, while breakfast and lunch are served at no cost to students, any second meal, milk, water, or a la carte items are subject to charges. Only the first reimbursable meal for breakfast and lunch are at no cost for students.

● Breakfast would include a main entrée, usually a grain, with fruit and milk. For lunch, a student must take three out of the five components (grain, meat/meat alternate, fruit, vegetable, milk), with one being a fruit or vegetable.

● Second meals, additional milk, water, and a la carte items must be purchased with prepaid funds from the student's Titan account or with cash as long as the account is in good standing. Students are not allowed to charge these items.

We thank you for your patience. As always, we are grateful for the opportunity to provide nourishing and healthy meals to all Franklin students, so please reach out to us at 508-613-1477 with any questions or concerns.

Best,

Lucas Giguere

Superintendent of Schools

Shared from the original copy posted here ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/16bmRRzpYHWwpSlGd--A7U2LmAaVrgPjf/view

Franklin Public Schools: Letter to Community regarding Meals at no cost to students

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Meeting Agenda for Mar 14, 2023 - 7 PM

Franklin School Committee

March 14, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Municipal Building – Council Chambers

Call to Order                                              Ms. Spencer

Pledge of Allegiance

Moment of Silence

I. Routine Business

A. Review of Agenda

B. Payment of Bills Mr. McNeill

C. Payroll Ms. Spencer

D. FHS Student Representative Comments

E. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations

A. Parmenter Highlights

B. FY24 Superintendent’s Recommended Budget

III. Discussion/Action Items

A. Franklin School Committee Resolution Special Education Circuit Breaker Funding

I recommend support of the resolution for Special Education Circuit Breaker

funding as discussed.  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_a_-_resolution-_circuit_breaker.pdf

B. Franklin School Committee Resolution Universal Free School Meals

I recommend support of the resolution for Universal Free School Meals as

discussed.  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_b_-_resolution_free_meals.pdf

IV. Discussion Only Items

A. none

V. Information Matters

A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

B. School Committee Liaison Reports

VI. Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Minutes

I recommend approval of the minutes from the February 28, 2023 School

Committee meeting as detailed.

B. JFK Gift

I recommend acceptance of a check for $1158.60 from the JFK PCC for

supplemental supplies as detailed.

VII. Citizen’s Comments

VIII. New Business

To discuss any future agenda items

IX. Executive Session

a. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to

collective bargaining with the Van Drivers, Cafeteria, ESP/LPN and

Secretaries units as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on

the bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so

declares.

X. Adjournment 

The agenda doc includes remote participation info ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_3-14-23.pdf

The meeting packet folder contains the documents released for this meeting (not all documents are released Before the meeting)

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/march-14-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Meeting Agenda for Mar 14, 2023 - 7 PM

CommonWealth Magazine Beacon Hill Recap: Healey files for shelter & school lunch programs; MA GOP changes leadership

"Healey seeks funding for shelters, school meals"

"REVIVING DEBATE on an issue that lawmakers left untouched at the end of last session, Gov. Maura Healey on Monday filed a $282 million spending bill she said is necessary to manage a surge in demand for emergency shelter and prevent the free school meals program from running out of money.

Healey called on top House and Senate Democrats to make quick work of her new supplemental budget bill, which would steer $85 million toward an emergency shelter “crisis,” allocate $130 million to keep expanded nutrition assistance in place for a few more months, and appropriate $65 million to ensure a universal school meals program remains afloat through the end of the academic year.

Her bill (H 47) targets the same growing shelter strain, fueled in part by an influx of migrant arrivals to Massachusetts, that prompted Gov. Charlie Baker to unsuccessfully seek $130 million in November."

Continue reading the article in CommonWealth Magazine ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/healey-seeks-funding-for-shelters-school-meals/

"Carnevale wins state GOP chair post by 3 votes"

"AMY CARNEVALE of Marblehead won a second-ballot victory Tuesday night to become chair of the Massachusetts Republican arty, edging incumbent Jim Lyons by a margin of 37-34.

Carnevale’s victory gives her control of a party that took a drubbing in November and faces a long road back to both financial and political relevance in Massachusetts. She is hopeful that Republicans who deserted the party under Lyons will now return with financial and political support. She said many have promised to do so."

Continue reading the article in CommonWealth Magazine ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/carnevale-wins-state-gop-chair-post-by-3-votes/

"House panel votes 2-1 to seat Kassner over Mirra"

"THE TWO DEMOCRATS on a three-member special House committee concluded that the chamber should officially seat Kristin Kassner, a Hamilton Democrat who topped five-term Republican Rep. Lenny Mirra by a single vote in a contested recount.

Reps. Michael Day of Stoneham and Daniel Ryan of Charlestown submitted a majority report to the House clerk’s office recommending Kassner be declared “the properly elected and qualified Representative for the Second Essex District,” a move that would allow her to join the House nearly a month after the two-year term began and would spell the end of Mirra’s decade-long tenure."

Continue reading the article in CommonWealth Magazine ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/house-panel-votes-2-1-to-seat-kassner-over-mirra/

The golden dome of the State House. (Photo by Andy Metzger)

"USDA extends universal free lunch through next school year"

Tracy O'Connell Novick (@TracyNovick) tweeted on Tue, Apr 20, 2021:

"As I think this is a time for good news, here's some from @USDANutrition this afternoon:  https://t.co/E5oBYj6KWG

"The United States Department of Agriculture announced Tuesday it would extend universal free lunch through the 2021-2022 school year, in an effort to reach more of the estimated 12 million youths experiencing food insecurity.

In March, the USDA said these waivers, which made school meals more flexible to administer, would be extended only to Sept. 30, leaving schools and families uncertain about what next school year might look like."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/04/20/usda-extends-universal-free-lunch/

 

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/TracyNovick/status/1384596200876281856