Fairfield ISD announced its policy today for providing free and reduced-price meals for children served under the attached current income eligibility guidelines. Each school/site or the central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by anyone on request.

Starting on July 12, 2022, Fairfield ISD will begin distributing letters to the households of the children in the district about these 2022-2023 eligibility benefits and actions households need to take to apply. Applications also are available at 615 Post Oak Road, Fairfield, Texas 75840. Online applications and more information are available at www.fisdnutrition.com.

Criteria for Free and Reduced-Price Meal Benefits

The following criteria will be used to determine a child’s eligibility for free or reduced-price meal benefits:

Income

  1. Household income that is at or below the income eligibility levels Categorical or Automatic Eligibility
  2. Household receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF); or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR)

Program Participant

  1. Child’s status as a foster child, homeless, runaway, migrant, or displaced by a declared disaster
  2. Child’s enrollment in Head Start or Even Start

Income Eligibility

For those households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals based on income, an adult in the household must complete the free and reduced-price meal application and return it to Crystal Thill, Child Nutrition Director, 615 Post Oak Road, Fairfield, Texas 75840. Those individuals filling out the application will need to provide the following information:

  1. Names of all household members
  2. Amount, frequency, and source of current income for each household member
  3. Last 4 digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member who signs the application or, if the adult does not have a social security number, check the box for “No Social Security number”
  4. Signature of an adult household member attesting that the information provided is correct

Categorical or Program Eligibility

Fairfield ISD is working with local agencies to identify all children who are categorically and program eligible. Fairfield ISD will notify the households of these children that they do not need to complete an application. Any household that does not receive a letter and feels it should have should contact us using the contact information below.

Any household that wishes to decline benefits should contact us using the contact information below.

Applications may be submitted anytime during the school year. The information households provide on the application will be used to determine eligibility. Applications may also be verified by the school officials at any time during the school year.

Determining Eligibility

Under the provisions of the free and reduced-price meal policy, Crystal Thill, Child Nutrition Director, will review applications and determine eligibility. Households or guardians dissatisfied with the Reviewing Official’s eligibility determination may wish to discuss the decision with the Reviewing Official on an informal basis. Households wishing to make a formal appeal for a hearing on the decision may make a request within 10 calendar days either orally or in writing to Dr. Jason Adams, Superintendent, 615 Post Oak Road, Fairfield, Texas 75840, (903) 389-2532.

Unexpected Circumstances

If a household member becomes unemployed or if the household size increases, the household should contact the school.

Such changes may make the children of the household eligible for benefits if the household’s income falls at or below the attached current income eligibility guidelines.

Questions or Concerns

Please Contact:

Crystal Thill, Child Nutrition Director

615 Post Oak Road

Fairfield, Texas 75840

(903) 389-2532

crystal.thill@fairfieldisd.org

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at:

https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation.

The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.