Mark Hicks, Director of Food Service.
Phone: (845)-486-4491

Here at the Arlington Food Service Department, we are guided in our mission to exceed our customers' expectations by utilizing a process of continuous improvement. We are dedicated to providing the best available nutritional components and incorporating them into a wide variety of menu choices that offer great value to our students and staff. Our team is committed to preparing healthy yet interesting meals that surpass the dietary guidelines as defined by the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act, administered by the USDA.

If your student receives Free and Reduced Lunch already you still must fill out an application each school year to renew their participation in that program.

 Click Here for applications for Free and Reduced Meals for the 2024-2025 school year. Paper copies will be available at each school.

CEP will continue for several Arlington buildings!

We are pleased to announce that six of our buildings were approved by New York State to participate in the Community Eligibility Provision program which will provide free breakfast and lunch for students. Starting September 1, 2024, and ending June 30, 2025, the following buildings will participate: Arthur S May Elementary, Overlook Primary, Titusville Intermediate, West Road Intermediate, and Traver Road Primary schools, and Lagrange Middle School. This program provides for a nutritious breakfast and lunch each school day. However, the program does not include snacks and beverages. Snacks and beverages will still be available for students to purchase separately and are not free.

Meal Prices for 2024-2025 : 

The Three Most Frequently Asked Questions about School Lunch.

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.

Please contact the Food Services Department at (845)-486-4491 with any questions. 

District Wellness Policy:

The District Wellness Policy can be found at the following link to the Policy Manual:  https://www.arlingtonschools.org/cms/lib/NY02215626/Centricity/Domain/27/WellnessPolicy17.pdf

Wellness Committee Triennial Policy Review 11/01/2023.  

Wellness Policy Evaluation 2023

The Dutchess County Summer Food Service Program

 A great way to ensure that kids get the healthy food they enjoy during the school year, even when schools are not in session. All kids are invited to drop by locations in Poughkeepsie, Beacon, Amenia/Millerton and Wappingers for a meal, activities, or both!

The summer meals opportunities in Dutchess County are collaborative efforts with various locations and hours.

Parents are encouraged to call 845-677-8223 extension 110 to find out more about all the Summer Food Service Programs being offered in your area. 

Click Here for More Information: Summer Food Service Program