School Nutrition

Important Changes to School Meals in 2022-23

There are several important changes to school meals for the 2022-23 school year:

School lunches will no longer be free. The federal program that allowed us to offer free school meals since March of 2020 has expired. Families can qualify for free lunches by filling out and returning the Application for Educational Benefits (Free and Reduced Lunch form).

WAPS will be able to offer free breakfast to all students. The school board approved a proposal to continue to offer free breakfast for all students using Provision 2 of the National School Lunch Act. To help with the administration of this program, we are asking all families, even those who don’t qualify, to complete and return the Application for Educational Benefits (Free and Reduced Lunch form).

Due to rising costs, lunch prices will increase in 2022-23. Lunches for elementary students will cost $2.50, lunches for middle school students will cost $2.80 and lunches for high school students will cost $2.95. Students in families who qualify and return the Application for Educational benefits will continue to receive free lunches.

The Application for Educational benefits is more than a free meal benefit. Your application also helps the school qualify for additional funding that supports all students, and your family might qualify for discounts on fees for athletics and activities, college admissions, ACT/SAT testing and more.

To submit your Application for Educational benefits, print out and return this form to WAPS School Nutrition, 901 Gilmore Ave., Winona, MN 55987, or you can submit your Application for Educational Benefits electronically:

APPLY HERE - MOBILE FRIENDLY

APPLY HERE - INFINITE CAMPUS

WAPS Summer Meal Program

All children ages 18 and under in Winona will receive free meals through the Winona Area Public Schools Summer Meal program.

This includes the return of the Summer Lunch Bus, which will once again be parked outside the Bob Welch Aquatic Center, 780 W. 4th St., from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on weekdays beginning Monday, June 13 and ending Friday, Aug. 12.

Here are all of the summer meal distribution sites:

SUMMER LUNCH BUS: Bob Welch Aquatic Center, 780 W. 4th St., 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 13-Aug. 12
Goodview Elementary School, 5100 9th St., 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 13-Aug. 19
Winona Middle School, 1570 Homer Road, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., June 13-Aug. 26

At this time, USDA regulations state that meals must be eaten on site, which is a change from the previous two years.

School Meal Prices

2022-23 Meal Prices	Breakfast	Lunch	Monthly Cost*
Elementary Schools	Free	$2.50	$55.00
Winona Middle School	Free	$2.80	$61.60
WSHS, WALC	Free	$2.95	$64.90

Students whose households qualify for free and reduced lunch are not charged for school meals. In the 2022-23 school year, breakfast will be free to all students. *The monthly cost is determined by taking the average number of school days in a month (22) times the meal price.

ADD MONEY TO YOUR ACCOUNT - INFINITE CAMPUS

Application for Educational Benefits (Free and Reduced)

Our school provides healthy meals each day. Breakfast is at no cost; lunch costs $2.50 for elementary, $2.80 for middle school and $2.95 for high school. Our school participates in Provision 2 under the United States Department of Agriculture National School Breakfast program. Provision 2 is an alternate meal claiming option in which breakfast is provided at no cost to all students. There is still a charge for lunch unless your household qualifies for free or reduced-price meals.

While breakfast is provided at no cost, the school must still determine which students qualify for free or reduced-price meals to receive education funds and discounts and determine benefits for lunch. Return the completed application to WAPS School Nutrition, 901 Gilmore Ave., Winona, MN, 55987. Electronic versions of the form are available at the links below:

APPLY HERE - MOBILE FRIENDLY APPLY HERE - INFINITE CAMPUS

Common questions

Do I need to fill out a form for each child?

Who can get free school meals?

Children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), and foster, homeless, migrant and runaway children can get free school meals without reporting household income. Alternatively, children can get free school meals if their household income is within the maximum income shown for their household size on the instructions.

I get WIC or Medical Assistance. Can my children get free school meals?

What if my income is not always the same?

Will the income information or case number I give be checked?

How will the information be kept?

If I don't qualify now, may I apply later?

Feed the Kids

What is Feed the Kids fund?

The Feed the Kids Fund is a safety net for K-12 students that do not have sufficient funds in their accounts to cover the cost of school meals and who don’t qualify for meal benefits. This program saves children the embarrassment of not having money to pay for their meals. This program was established to be a temporary solution until other arrangements can be made to assist the child and family on a more permanent basis.

As unfortunate as it is there are children who go hungry, even in this community. Parents may find themselves in situations that are beyond their control (such as medical problems, unemployment, or family difficulties) and this program will minimize the affect on the children due to these circumstances. Specifically the kids will be provided with nutritious meals. We know kids do better in school if they are well nourished.

How does it work?

Funds are available to provide K-12 students with a nutritious lunch when the need has been identified by the principal, teacher, or other staff member. Before the Feed the Kids funds can be accessed, a referral application must be completed and approved by the School Nutrition Office.

The history of Feed the Kids fund:

The goal of the WAPS School Nutrition Program is to help kids make healthy life-long food choices. Kids who eat nutritious meals perform better in all aspects of their lives. The National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs have been providing healthy lunches to students for more than 50 years. We are committed to providing menus with a wide variety of foods that are lower in fat and sodium with moderate amounts of sugar.

DONATE HERE

You can also mail your donation to the School Nutrition Office, 903 Gilmore Ave., Winona, MN, 55987. Checks should be made payable to the Winona Area Public Schools Feed the Kids Fund.

What's on the menu?

Jennifer Walters

School Nutrition Director

District Wide

School: (507)494-0831

Shannon Wolner

School Nutrition Manager

Winona Senior High School

School: (507)494-1577

Leilla Cady

Nutrition Secretary

Winona Senior High School

School: (507)494-0830

Our Fuel ... Your Fire

School Nutrition Services proudly prepares the fuel that feeds the fire of learning for our students and staff. We offer great tasting, healthy meals with a smile each day.

District meals meet the nutrition standards set forth in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). Lunches meet one-third of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) and breakfast meets one-fourth of the RDI as established by the National Research Academy of Sciences. The guidelines require that we offer a variety of low fat foods including more grains, fruits, and vegetables. Menus are planned to meet the calorie needs of active students.

We thank you for your past, present and future support of our school nutrition program. Our greatest joy is feeding the future.

Special Diet Concerns

According to the National School Lunch Program Act, the School Nutrition program is required to follow specific regulations in accommodating special diets for students enrolled in the Winona Area Public Schools.

Generally, children with food allergies or intolerances do not have a disability as defined in any of the Acts or laws, and the school nutrition programs may, but is not required to, make food substitutions for them. However, when food allergies result in severe, life-threatening (anaphylactic) reactions, the child's condition would meet the definition of "disability" and the substitutions prescribed by the licensed, medical physician must be made.

Winona Area Public Schools has adopted the Minnesota Department of Education Special Diet Statement form. If you are requesting any special dietary requests for your child, please take one of the enclosed forms to your family physician to have completed. These forms do not need to be renewed on a yearly basis, but must reflect the child's current needs. Once our office receives any special requests, we will contact you, if necessary, to set up a meeting to discuss your child's needs.

Special Diet Statement Request Form

From USDA memo SP26-2017:

Is a food allergy considered a disability?

A food allergy will generally be considered a disability. Under the definition of disability in the ADA, a food allergy does not need to be life-threatening or cause anaphylaxis in order to be considered a disability. A non-life-threatening allergy may be considered a disability and require a meal modification, if it impacts a major bodily function or other major life activity (such as digestion, respiration, immune response, skin rash, etc.).

Is a food intolerance recognized as a disability?

A food intolerance may be considered a disability if it substantially limits a major life activity. For example, if a child’s digestion (a major bodily function) is impaired by gluten intolerance, their condition may be considered a disability regardless of whether or not consuming wheat causes severe distress.”

Also from USDA memo SP 59-2016:

“After the passage of the ADA Amendments Act, most physical and mental impairments constitute a disability. Therefore, rather than focusing on whether or not a student has a disability, schools should focus on working collaboratively with parents to ensure an equal opportunity to participate in the School Meal Programs and receive program benefits.”

USDA Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800)877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer