Apply for 2016-2017 temporary free or reduced-priced meals status

Wicomico County Public Schools families looking for FARMS, or free or reduced meal status for the 2016-2017 school year are encouraged to apply before to Monday, Oct. 10.

Officials say that this is the date on which the school system can no longer grant temporary FARMS status to students based on last year’s application.

According to the release from Wicomico County Public Schools, on that date, any student who currently has a temporary meals status and has not had an application processed for this school year will revert to full pay status.

“Our schools and cafeteria staff want to minimize the potential impact to a student’s lunch experience, should a student’s status still be temporary on Monday. For the first few weeks of this school year, students have been able to use their Free and Reduced Meal status from last year to cover some or all of the cost of breakfast and lunch. As of Monday, this temporary privilege will no longer be offered, so parents and guardians should take care of this important application as soon as possible,” said Eric Goslee, Director of Food and Nutrition Services.

The FARMS application process helps determine which students are eligible to receive Free and Reduced Meals Status to make sure that they have access to nutritious meals while at school.

Beginning this school year, the Wicomico County Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services Department is offering parents and guardians the choice to apply online for Free and Reduced-Price Meals Status.

The Free and Reduced Meals benefits application can be found online by clicking on the Free and Reduced Meals button on the home page of the Wicomico County Public Schools website. 

By submitting online, parents and guardians can make the application process faster, and applications will be processed in a more timely fashion. School officials note that the application includes all students in a household, so only one application is needed.

“For the first time this year we are offering an online application process that’s very quick and easy,” Goslee said. “Families can also pick up a paper application at school, fill it out completely including signature, and return it to the school office.”

No matter which form of the application you choose, parents and guardians who apply will be notified of a student’s eligibility for Free and Reduced Meal status. That status is based on family income, family size, and other factors.

A student who participates or has family members who participate in certain other benefit programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Temporary Cash Assistance, may have been automatically identified and does not need to apply.

Please note that students also do not need to apply if they attend schools with the Community Eligibility Provision program that provides free breakfast and lunch to all of a school’s students. Wicomico CEP schools are Charles H. Chipman Elementary, Glen Avenue Elementary and Prince Street Elementary. However, if there are siblings in other schools in the county, they do need to submit an application if they wish to apply for FARMS, and the application must include the name of any student in the family who is at a CEP school.

Parents or guardians with questions or concerns about their student’s meal or application status may contact the Food and Nutrition Services office at 410-677-4419.