Free breakfast and lunch for all Tea Area School District students

Last week, Tea Area School District Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Lowery announced that Tea Area School District will be able to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students enrolled in grades JK through 12.

The District was able to qualify for a waiver through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program is in effect from October 1 through the end of the school year.

This unprecedented move will help ensure – no matter what the situation is on-the-ground – children have access to nutritious food as the country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic. USDA has committed to use the Congressionally appropriated funding that has been made available.

“As our nation reopens and people return to work, it remains critical our children continue to receive safe, healthy, and nutritious food. During the COVID-19 pandemic, USDA has provided an unprecedented amount of flexibilities to help schools feed kids through the school meal programs, and today, we are also extending summer meal program flexibilities for as long as we can, legally and financially,” said U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. “We appreciate the incredible efforts by our school foodservice professionals year in and year out, but this year we have an unprecedented situation. This extension of summer program authority will employ summer program sponsors to ensure meals are reaching all children – whether they are learning in the classroom or virtually – so they are fed and ready to learn, even in new and ever-changing learning environments.”

The “Titan” breakfast and lunch will now be free. In order for the meal to be free it must have all the required components of a reimbursable meal (Titan meal). Students choosing extra entrees, extra milks, or á la carte items will be charged for the additional items. If a guardian does not want their student to be able to purchase additional items, the should contact Delores Stratmeyer, Director of Food and Nutrition by email at delores.stratmeyer@k12.sd.us.

Students enrolled in virtual school are also eligible to receive the free meals. Those students will be receiving correspondence from the District this week on how to order the meals each week and be able to sign-up. Then, they will be able to pick up their meals daily at the Tea Area High School from 1 to 2 p.m. during school days.