Dear families,
We are pleased to inform you that the Cambridge Central School District has implemented a meal certification option to our schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). All students enrolled at Cambridge Central School District are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2023-24 school year. Your children will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or complete a free or reduced meal application.
What does this mean?
All students enrolled at Cambridge are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2023-24 school year. However, all families should complete the Household Income Eligibility Form in LINQ Connect by Oct. 1.
What is the Household Income Eligibility Form?
The form collects basic information about your child so our school can determine if they would otherwise be eligible for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch. It is important for every family to fill out this form because doing so helps bring much-needed additional money and services directly to our school!
The easiest way to complete the form is by visiting the LINQ Connect website. If you are unable to complete the form online, paper copies are available in the cafeteria office and the main office. Completed paper forms can be returned to school with your student to the attention of Patrick Kenneally, food service director.
If you have any questions, please contact Erin Wright, shared food service specialist, at 518-464-3945 or erin.wright@neric.org.
If all meals are free, why do we have to complete this form?
School districts receive funding from the state and federal governments. For each learner who would otherwise qualify for free or reduced-price breakfast/lunch, schools receive additional dollars in funding. Even a small increase in completed Household Income Eligibility forms results in significantly more money to support our students and district.
Will anything be charged to my child’s account this year?
All students are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge. Students will only be charged for drinks not included with the meal, snacks, ice cream and double meals.
What if my child doesn’t want to eat school breakfast/lunch? Why should I fill out the form?
Even if your child chooses to bring their own breakfast/lunch or snack, or if they eat lunch at home, filling out the form is very important. It ensures that our district gets all of the funding and benefits available. Also, even if your child does not eat school breakfast/lunch, students who would otherwise qualify for free breakfast/lunch can receive benefits, including reduced fees for SAT and ACT tests, reduced college applications fees, discounts on Chromebook warranty and discounts on monthly internet services and computer purchases.
How does filling out the Household Income Eligibility Form help our school?
Schools qualify to receive more money per learner from the state and federal government and receive more money in their budgets to support students.
Our household doesn’t qualify for free or reduced-price meals, do I still need to complete the form?
The information on this form is not shared. If you complete the form, you won’t enter the exact household income, only an income range. If you do not wish to be considered for eligibility, you may fill out the paper form by completing the student information, write “does not qualify” in the income section and then complete the name, signature and date lines and return it to erin.wright@neric.org or to school.
Is the Information I submit confidential?
Yes. The information you submit on the Household Income Eligibility Form is not shared by our school. Personal information submitted on the form is not shared with the state or federal government; only the number of students who would otherwise qualify for free or reduced breakfast/lunch is shared. District personnel are not told which learners would qualify for free or reduced breakfast/lunch benefits. Our school does not share information with other organizations that provide benefits.
What if I still have questions?
We are happy to hear from you if you still have questions. Please contact Food Service Director, Patrick Kenneally, at patrick.kenneally@neric.org or Shared Food Service Specialist, Erin Wright, at 518-464-3945 or erin.wright@neric.org.
We thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely,
Patrick Kenneally
Food Service Director