I pay my taxes. Why do I have to pay for lunch?
Your food service department is not funded by the local school district budget. We rely on earned revenue at each school and reimbursements from the Federal Government along with grants from the Department of Defense and the New York State Office of General Services, known as "Commodities Awards", to keep our program going. School lunch is funded by the USDA and Administered by the State to each district. Local funds are not applied unless dire financial needs impact the department's ability to operate. This is rare.

Isn't it a law that school lunch is free?
No. What became known as "Universal Free Lunch" grew out of the Pandemic Relief efforts and was extended to all schools to help all students during the pandemic. It was always voluntary to join the program so long as the School District applied for and was granted the waivers to do so. It was funded by increased reimbursements from the USDA and some money from New York State. The program ended, and we resumed the regular National School Lunch program as authorized by the USDA. This was known as New York State's "return to normal" efforts.

Why aren't all buildings eligible for Free Meals or CEP?
The formula that decides which buildings can participate in the Community Eligibility Program uses a qualifier known as" identified student percentage" and is taken directly from the New York State Certified Downloads. That percentage of identified students must indicate that 25% of that building's student enrollment is on Medicaid or Snap etc. Any Arlington building that did not clear this hurdle remains on the regular school lunch program. Free and Reduced program applications are still available for these buildings.

See below for Cafeteria Account FAQs and Free and Reduced Lunch FAQs. Please contact the Food Services Department at (845)-486-4491 with any other questions. 

Must I deposit money in my student’s account? No, this is an optional program strictly for your convenience. If you prefer to send cash with your student, you may continue to do so. 

Is there a set amount of money I should put into the account? No, you may deposit as much or as little as you like. 

Can I limit the items my child may purchase?  We encourage moderation, not elimination of snack foods and other treats.  You will have to discuss your "House Rules" with your child.  Parents are able to monitor daily student purchases online at www.myschoolbucks.com. 

How will I know when my child’s account is running low? The cash register system will be able to tell us that your child’s balance is getting low, and the cashier will remind the child.  Parents can also view student balances on-line and set up automatic low-balance email reminders at www.myschoolbucks.com.  

What is a complete meal? A complete meal is our offering as indicated on the weekly menu, including servings of protein, bread, vegetable, fruit and milk.  Students may choose any one of several entree items offered each day, along with a serving of fruit, vegetable and milk.  Federal guidelines dictate that the student must take a fruit or a vegetable to qualify as a complete meal.  We can offer this complete meal because it is subsidized by the federal government to keep meal prices low to students. If a student wants additional items, he or she is charged accordingly. 

How do I put money into my student’s account?  You may send a check or cash with your student to give directly to the cashier in the cafeteria or checks may be mailed to Arlington School Lunch Fund, PO Box 127, LaGrangeville, NY 12540. Checks should be made payable to “Arlington School Lunch Fund.” Please write your child’s first and last name and PIN number on the check so we will be sure that it gets credited to the correct account. An optional on-line credit card payment system is available for a small fee.  Click here for more information. 

Why must students use their PIN number when paying cash? If all students use their PIN number for all transactions, including when paying cash, the lines will move faster because the cash register system requires less information from the cashier if a PIN number is used at the beginning of the order. Security issues are also more easily resolved when all students use a PIN number. 

What if my student forgets their PIN number? If a student forgets his/her PIN number, they should ask to speak to the cafeteria manager, who will be able to assist them.

• My child was on the program last year.  Do I have to apply again?  A current application must be completed each school year.

  How does the cashier know my child gets a free or reduced price meal?  All students use their PIN #’s for all transactions.  Once your child’s application has been approved for free and reduced price meals, the computer register will automatically adjust the price of the student’s complete meal.

  What if my student forgets their PIN #?  If a student forgets his/her PIN #, they should ask to speak to the cafeteria manager, who will be able to assist them.

  What will my child eat on the free and reduced meals program?  Students who have been approved for the free or reduced price meal program may choose the complete meal that is offered each day.

  What is a complete meal?  A complete meal is our offering as indicated on the weekly menu, including servings of protein, bread, vegetable, fruit and milk.  Students may choose any one of the several entrée items offered each day, along with a serving of fruit, vegetable and milk.  Federal guidelines dictate that the student must take a fruit or a vegetable to qualify as a complete meal.  We can offer this complete meal because it is subsidized by the federal government to keep meal prices low to students.  If a student wants additional items, or a second lunch, he or she is charged accordingly.

  What if my child wants just milk or a snack?  Students may purchase individual items at a la carte prices at any time.  Only the complete meal qualifies as the free or reduced price lunch.  The Arlington Food Service Department strongly encourages all students to eat well-balanced healthy meals for both breakfast and lunch.

  How do I put money into my student’s account for a la carte items or snacks?  You may send a check or cash with your student to give directly to the cashier in the cafeteria or they may be sent to the address on the letterhead.  Checks should be made payable to “Arlington School Lunch Fund.”  Please write your child’s full name, PIN#, and grade on the check so we will be sure that it gets credited to the correct account.  Credit and debit card payments are also accepted through our on-line prepayment system at www.myschoolbucks.com.