Our district will be participating in the National School Lunch Program which is available to all district students for the 2023-2024 school year. Please see the welcome back and guidelines letters for more detailed information, including the free and reduced meals application process, meal pricing and federal income eligibility guidelines.
In the 2023-2024 school year, the federal government is providing no cost meals to those qualifying for reduced priced meal benefits, in addition to those who qualify for free. Children may qualify for the free and reduced meal program based on USDA federal guidelines for household income and size. If your household income and size exceeds the federal limit, the state of New Jersey is also offering an added benefit this school year, the NJEIE. The New Jersey Expanded Income Eligibility (NJEIE) allows families whose income is close the federal guidelines to be eligible for free meals (there is no reduced category). Please view Federal and NJEIE Eligibility Guidelines below.
All households are encouraged to complete a free and reduced meal application, even if you believe you may not qualify, as the information obtained may be used for other statistical evaluations and grant opportunities that may benefit the entire school district.
We also strongly encourage all families to apply online on PaySchools Central by using this link: payschoolscentral.com Use the drop down menu to choose your language preference, English or Spanish. Choose Twp of Union as the school district. Please see the PaySchools Central User Guides listed below, as well as important contact information.
Paper copies of the free and reduced meal application are available in English and Spanish in the main office of your child’s school if you prefer to apply with a hard copy. For additional translations in other languages to assist with the completion of the hard copy of the application, please visit USDA NSLA Translated Applications Site. Please keep in mind that this process will take longer to get approval, whereas the online free and reduced meal application and approval process is much quicker. Once you complete a paper application, you should receive a determination via email within 10 school days of submission.
All students who received free or reduced meals in the past MUST reapply in order to maintain their eligibility, unless they are considered direct certified. The reapplication deadline is October 20, 2023. If you do not reapply for free or reduced meals, you will be responsible to pay for all meal charges after October 20, 2023 until a new free and reduced meal application is submitted and approved. Students who are considered direct certified will be notified via postal mail.
Breakfast meal service will begin on Thursday, September 7, 2023. No lunch will be served that day since it is a half day. Lunch meal service will begin for on Friday, September 8, 2023. Please click on this link to access the school breakfast and lunch menus for the elementary schools, middle schools and high school: fdmealplanner.com Type Township of Union under the "Find your location" prompt, and then hit enter or click on the magnifying glass to access the monthly menus.
Please refer to the price lists below. If your child qualifies for free or reduced meals, they must take all of the components required in order for their meal to be considered reimbursable. As a reminder, a la carte items are not included with free or reduced meals and must be purchased separately in cash or using the online payment program, PaySchools Central.
Only students with meal accounts in good standing will be permitted to purchase a la carte items.
If you have any questions regarding your child’s meal account, email Laura DiGeso at [email protected].
We look forward to a successful school year ahead!
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To fill out a free and reduced meal application online now, go to payschoolscentral.com and use this user guide.
2023-2024 Food Services Parent Welcome Letter
Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines 2023-2024 (as announced by USDA) - English
2023-2024 Free and Reduced Meal Application (paper version) - English
Detailed Instructions on How to Fill Out a Free and Reduced Meal Application
Sharing Information With Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare Form - English
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Pautas federales de elegibilidad de ingresos 2023-2024 (según lo anunciado por el USDA)
2023-2024 Solicitud de comidas gratis y a precio reducido (versión impresa) - Español
Instrucciones detalladas sobre cómo completar una solicitud para comidas gratis o a precio reducido
Compartir información con Medicaid o formulario NJ FamilyCare
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To access a prototype of the free and reduced meal application in many other languages, please click here.
Once you choose your language, you will be directed to the School Meals Application Materials Page.
Under Resources for Households, choose one of the options below:
*Prototype Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals (PDF Fillable)
*Prototype Parent Letter
*Prototype Application Instructions
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To register for PaySchools Central, click on the logo below, and refer to the attached user guides.
PaySchools Central Welcome Letter
PaySchools Central Parent User Guide (English)
PaySchools Central Parent User Guide (Spanish)
PaySchools Central Online Application User Guide
Customer Support for Online Payment System
Keeping Up With Your PaySchools Central Account
Important Reminders Regarding Your PaySchools Central Account
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We are pleased to use Pomptonian Food Service again this school year to provide tasty, healthy and nutritional meals to our students, faculty and staff. Please click on the icon below for their Welcome Back message.
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Remember the food pyramid?
Meet MyPlate, the official symbol of the five food groups.
Learn how to make MyPlate work for you by clicking below.
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Cafeteria Price Lists for 2023-2024
(Click on the options below to access this year's price lists.)
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
Faculty
Local School Wellness Policy
USDA Nondiscrimination Statement
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Breakfast meal service will begin on the first day of school which is Thursday, September 7, 2023. No lunch will be served that day since it is a half day for students, faculty and staff. Lunch meal service will begin at all district schools on Friday, September 8, 2023. Please click on the carrot icon above to access the school breakfast and lunch menus for the elementary schools, middle schools and high school. Type Township of Union under the "Find your location" prompt, and then hit enter or click on the magnifying glass to access the monthly menus.
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If you would like a refund of the balance on a meal account, or would like to transfer funds to a sibling, or for any other Food Services related questions, please contact the District Food Service Coordinator, Laura DiGeso, at [email protected].