We have some exciting news to share with our families!
Beginning Sept. 2, all students in the Cheatham County School District can eat breakfast and lunch for free.
This opportunity is a result of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approving a temporary waiver to allow schools to feed students for free through Dec. 31, 2020 or until federal funding runs out.
The waiver will help us ensure meals are reaching all children in this new and ever-changing environment – whether they are learning in the classroom or virtually – so they are fed and ready to learn.
Our School Nutrition Department is entirely federally funded so by your participation in these free meals, our department will be able to receive its portion of these USDA federal funds.
What this means for Cheatham County families is that all students 18 and under (with the exception of special education students who are over 18) will be able to eat breakfast and lunch for free until further notice –regardless of eligibility.
Money can still be put on a student's account to purchase a la carte items. Any money remaining on student accounts will roll over to be used when the USDA waiver expires on Dec. 31 or when federal funding runs out.
For remote days and/or virtual students wanting free meals through our curbside program, parents will be able to pick up meals for their children. If you have a child in an elementary school on virtual learning and are interested in picking up free meals, please make arrangements with your nutrition manager.
If you have a child in both an elementary school and a middle or high school, we will ask that you pick up meals at either the middle or high school on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Additionally, families may be able to pick up meals for any of their children who are not of school age or enrolled in a Cheatham County school during our curbside pick-ups on Wednesdays at the middle and high schools; these meals will also be free. Children do not have to be present in the vehicle when meals are picked up.
Parents are strongly encouraged to help support our Nutrition Department and have their students eat both breakfast and lunch with us.
Additionally, parents are also encouraged to continue filling out applications for the federal free and reduced-priced meal program because when the USDA waiver ends, students will go back to being charged at their respective free, reduced, or paid eligibility status for any school meals.
We are very thankful for this USDA waiver as it will allow us to further help our program and our families as we have all been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you have questions or need more information, please contact the School Nutrition Department at 615-746-1411.