The Baldwin-Whitehall
School District operates a lunch program for students
at all grade levels. Since the
lunch period is "closed," students are
not permittedto leave the building for lunch. Additionally,
students are not permitted to call take-out restaurants
and have food delivered to the school. Students
may bring their lunches or purchase their lunches
in the cafeterias.
The school
cafeterias offer a Type A plate lunch at all grade
levels in compliance with the National School Lunch
Program. The menus are different for elementary
and secondary school students. The price for the
plate lunch is $1.60 at the elementary schools
and $1.85 at Harrison Middle School and Baldwin
High School.
Parents
or students who have questions concerning the school
lunch program should contact Mr. Jay West, Food Service
Director, at 412-942-0311 or the Cafeteria Manager
at the school. The cafeteria manager for each building
is listed on the Telephone Directory included in
this supplement.
SCHOOL
LUNCH PROGRAM - ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
Each month,
the menu for the elementary schools is distributed
to all students during the last week of the preceeding
month. The menu for August and September will be
distributed on the first day of school. Parents
should take time to review the monthly menus with
their children. Dietary information is also included
on the back of the monthly menus. A limited number
of a la carte snack items are available for purchase
in addition to the plate lunch.
As alternatives
to the regular plate lunch, elementary students may
purchase a "bag lunch" or a prepared salad.
Bag lunches include a sandwich choice (meat or peanut
butter and jelly), vegetable sticks, fruit item,
and milk. The prepared salad includes turkey or ham
and cheese strips. Each day, the teacher will check
with the students and send a count to the kitchen.
SCHOOL
LUNCH PROGRAM - SECONDARY SCHOOLS
In addition
to the regular plate lunch at Harrison Middle School,
various types of food bars are offered. These include
salad bar, pasta bar, taco bar, and potato bar.
Beginning in October, the type of bar each day
will be indicated on the monthly menu for the middle
school. A variety of a la carte items are also
offered daily.
The Purple
Platter Food Court operates daily at Baldwin High
School. Students may purchase a daily plate lunch
for $1.85, or the salad bar for $1.85 per plate.
An extensive array of a la carte items including
pizza, sandwiches, French fries, fruit, homemade
soups, salads, and beverages may be purchased in
the food court.
MILK
PROGRAM
For students
who bring their lunches to school, milk may be
purchased at 40 cents per half-pint. Products include
standard, low-fat, nonfat, and flavored milk.
POINT
OF SALE SYSTEM
The Food
Service Department utilizes a computerized "point
of sale" system in
all cafeterias. Every student is issued a picture
ID card with a bar code which represents the student's
ID number. The ID card is also used in the libraries
to check out books and other materials.
Parents can
deposit any sum of money into the accounts to cover
the cost of lunches and snacks purchased by their
children. When the student goes through the line,
the purchases are recorded on the cash register and
the card is swiped through the card reader. The amount
of the purchase is deducted from the student's account.
At the elementary
schools, all students must use the card. The cards
are distributed to the students when they arrive
in the cafeteria and will be collected at the end
of the lunch line. This reduces the potential for
lost or damaged cards. Money should be sent with
the student on the first day of school on Monday,
to be deposited into the account.
Subsequent deposits can be sent on the last school
day of each week. Envelopes are provided to submit
deposits.
To purchase
approximately one month of lunches at the elementary
level (20 days at $1.60 per lunch) requires a deposit
of $32.00. For three months, the cost is $96.00 (60
lunches). One semester requires a deposit of $145.60
(91 lunches). The full year (182 days) can be purchased
for $291.20. If possible, parents are encouraged
to deposit funds for lunches for at least one week
or more.
Lunches can
be purchased with personal checks or money orders;
however, checks returned by the bank for any reason
will be subject to a $20.00 returned check charge.
All subsequent payments must then be made in cash
or money order.
At Harrison
Middle and Baldwin High Schools, use of the card
is optional. Although cash can be used to pay for
meals, students are encouraged to use the debit card.
In lieu of the debit cards, students may input their
ID numbers on a touch pad.
CHARGES
When an account
falls below an amount for which there are insufficient
funds to cover the purchase of a lunch, the student
may be provided with a sandwich in lieu of the regular
plate lunch. Parents must maintain sufficient funds
in their child's account to cover the costs of all
purchases. Parents who desire information on the
balance in their child's account or to review their
child's purchases should contact the Cafeteria Manager
at the building.
STUDENTS
WITH SPECIAL MEDICAL OR DIETARY NEEDS
In accordance
with federal and state regulations, the Food Service
Department will serve special meals, at no extra
charge, to students whose disability restrict their
diets. Additionally, substitutions in foods will
be made for students with or without a disability
who are unable to consume the regular lunch because
of a medical or other special dietary need.
Parents or
guardians of children who meet these conditions shall
request a form from the school office. The form must
be completed by the parent or guardian and supported
and signed by a physician. The physician must provide
recommended alternative foods.
Parents who
have questions concerning the menus and dietary information
should contact Mr. Jay West, Food Service Director,
at 412-942-0311.
FREE
AND REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM
Children
may be eligible to participate in the free and reduced
lunch program operated in the school district in
accordance with the guidelines established by the
Pennsylvania Department of Education and the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Based on income, students
may be eligible for either free or reduced price
lunches. Students eligible for reduced price lunches
pay 40 cents per lunch.
Information
on the free and reduced price lunch program will
be mailed to all parents in the backto- school information
packets prior to the first day of school. The completed
application form for the free and reduced lunch program
can be returned to the Food Service Department by
one of the following two ways:
1.
Mail to:
Director of Finance
&
Operations/Board Manager
Baldwin-Whitehall School District
4900 Curry Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15236-1817
or
2.
Return to the child's school office
To simplify
the process in applying for free and reduced lunches,
the following steps have been taken to assist parents:
*
It
is necessary to complete and return only one
application
for all children in the family. The application
can be returned to any school office or to the
Business Manager’s office.
*
Households that receive
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
do not need to complete an application if the
family has resided in the school district prior
to July 31, 2006. The school district will receive
a list from the Department of Welfare of all
resident families who receive TANF and will notify
the parent that all school-age children are eligible
for free lunches. Any family which is approved
for TANF and does not receive such a letter prior
to September 5, 2006 should contact Director of Finance & Operations/Board
Manager, at 412-885-7580.
*
Most families with
foster children are eligible to receive free
lunches regardless of income; however, an application
form must be completed.
*
Children who were
enrolled in the Baldwin-Whitehall School District
during the 2005-06 school year and received free
or reduced lunches will continue to receive benefits
through Friday, September 29, 2006, or until
such time as a new application is submitted,
whichever is earlier.
*
All applications
will be reviewed and notification provided to
the family within two (2) weeks after receipt
of the application.
*
The letter, directions,
and application form have been simplified.
In accordance
with federal regulations, families who receive free
or reduced lunches may be required to verify income
data submitted on the application form. If at any
time family monthly income increases by more than
$50 ($600 per year) or the family no longer receives
TANF or food stamps, the family must contact the
Business Manager. Similarly, if the family income
decreases during the school year (layoff, loss of
job, etc.), an application may be filed at that time.
Children
may qualify for free or reduced price meals if the
household income falls within the limits on this
chart.
Federal
Income Chart 7/01/05-6/30/06
Reduced Meals
Free Meals
Household Size
Yearly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Monthly
Weekly
1
18,889
1,575
364
13,273
1,107
256
2
25,327
2,111
488
17,797
1,484
343
3
31,765
2,648
611
22,321
1,861
430
4
38,203
3,184
735
26,845
2,238
517
5
44,641
3,721
859
31,369
2,615
604
6
51,079
4,257
983
35,893
2,992
691
7
57,517
4,794
1,107
40,417
3,369
778
8
63,955
5,330
1,230
44,941
3,746
865
For
each additional family member add:
+6,438
+537
+124
+4,524
+377
+87
Anyone who
disagrees with the decision of the Business Manager
may request a hearing by writing to
Assistant Superintendent, Baldwin-Whitehall School
District, 4900 Curry Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236 or
calling 412-885-7572.
In accordance
with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture
policy, the Baldwin-Whitehall School District is
prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race,
color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write to:
1.
USDA - Director
Office of Civil Rights
Room 326-W - Whitten Building
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20250-9410
or
2.
or call 202-702-5964 (voice
and TDD).
USDA is
an equal opportunity provider and employer.
