Effective December 1st, 2023, students attending Arongen, Shatekon, and Koda schools within the Shenendehowa district will be eligible for free breakfast and lunch at school. This change follows the expansion of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The CEP is a federal program that facilitates the offering of complimentary school meals in qualified schools.
The Shenendehowa district schools have reached the necessary threshold, with 25% or more of students in these schools qualifying for free meals, which enables the implementation of this provision. As a result, every student enrolled at Arongen Elementary, Shatekon Elementary, and Koda Middle School will have access to one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day, starting from the specified date.
It is important to note that this provision solely covers the cost of the standard breakfast and lunch meals. Any additional items outside of these meals, such as snacks, ice cream, cookies, and other similar products, are not included in this provision. Students wishing to purchase these additional items will need to pay separately. Payments for these items can be made either with cash or through a digital account on Paypams, provided the account has a positive balance. This distinction is crucial for parents and students to understand to manage their meal choices and payments accordingly.
