Food Services FAQs
Why was my child served something different than what was listed on the menu?
We strive to serve our students the menus posted for breakfast and lunch. However, due to circumstances beyond our control, changes to the posted menus may occur at times. Please check with your child's school nutrition manager prior to meal service if you have any concerns. We appreciate your understanding.
How much do meals cost?
All breakfast meals are free for students. Lunch costs are $2.70 for elementary students and $2.90 for students in grades 5–12. Note that your student may qualify for reduced-price meals. If they do, the price will be $0.40 per lunch meal.
Who can get free or reduced-price meals?
- All children in households receiving benefits from SNAP (food stamps) or TANF.
- Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court.
- Children participating in their school’s Head Start program.
- Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant.
How do I know if my children qualify as homeless, migrant, or runaway?
Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please contact Fred Vaughn at 312-859-9582 or fvaughn@lakeridgeschools.net.
Do I need to fill out an application for each child?
No. Use one Free and Reduced-Price School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Complete the application online on the schools website in the RDS Lake Ridge Parent Portal.
Should I fill out an application if I received a letter stating my children are already approved for free meals?
No, but please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, please contact Fred Vaughn at 312-859-9582 or fvaughn@lakeridgeschools.net immediately.
Can I apply online?
Yes! You are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application if you are able. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Visit the RDS Lake Ridge Parent Portal to begin or to learn more about the online application process. If you have any questions about the online application, please contact Fred Vaughn at 312-859-9582 or fvaughn@lakeridgeschools.net.
My child's application was approved last school year. Should I fill out a new one?
Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year. You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year. If you do not send in a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible for free meals, your child will be charged the full price of meals.
I receive WIC benefits. Can my children get free school meals?
Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please submit an application.
Will the information I give be checked?
Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.
If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later?
Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced-price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.
What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application?
You should talk to school officials. To request a hearing, please contact Fred Vaughn at 312-859-9582 or fvaughn@lakeridgeschools.net.
May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced-price meals.
What if my income is not always the same?
List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1,000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1,000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.
What if some household members have no income to report?
Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application, or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.
We are in the military. Do we report our income differently?
Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.
What if there is not enough space on the application for my family?
List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper, and attach it to your application. Please contact Fred Vaughn at 312-859-9582 or fvaughn@lakeridgeschools.net to receive a second application.
My family needs more help. Are there other programs we can apply for?
To find out how to apply for SNAP (food stamps) or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 1-800-403-0864.
How do I apply for free and reduced-price school meals?
Free and Reduced Applications may be completed through the RDS Lake Ridge Parent Portal. You only need to submit one application per household, even if your children attend more than one school in the district. The application must be filled out completely to certify your children for free or reduced-price school meals. Please follow these instructions in order! Each step of the instructions is the same as the steps on your application. If at any time you are not sure what to do next, please contact Fred Vaughn at 312-859-9582 or fvaughn@lakeridgeschools.net.