By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Beginning Wednesday, USD 489 Nutrition Services will be utilizing the waiver from USDA to offer free meals to all students.
Students will have the option to receive breakfast and lunch at school, free of charge through December 2020, or until USDA informs the district otherwise.
Students do not need to fill out any paperwork to receive the free meals at this time, said Jessica Younker, USD 489 director of Nutrition Services.
This includes students who are learning on-site and remotely.
USD 489 usually provides 2,400 meals per day to students. This includes the Early Childhood Center, Younker said.
Students who have opted in to the parent choice remote learning should have already received information about picking meals up.
Hays Middle School students will be attending remotely through Friday. There will be a drive-through meal option at HMS for HMS students through Friday while the school is in remote learning.
Younker said the USDA funds have given school districts relief from processing paperwork as well as the ability to provide meals to families who may be struggling financially but do not qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
A la carte options will still be available for high school and middle schools (during on-site learning only) and charged to their meal accounts.
All money placed on the meal accounts will carry over until regular meal prices resume.
Students who qualify for free or reduced meals will also carry over that status.
If you have not yet applied, but you may qualify for free or reduced-cost meals, please complete the application as soon as possible. It can help your school now and help you second semester. Apply online at www.ezmealapp.com.