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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 1, 2002)
NOTICES Income Guidelines Announced for Meals at School The Oregon Department of Education announced the policy for free and reduced-price meals for students in schools operating the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs and for free milk in schools offering free milk through the Special Milk Program. Free and reduced-price meals are available for students unable to pay the full price for meals. Some schools that do not offer the National School Lunch or Breakfast Programs may offer free milk to eligible students. Eligibility is determined by household size and income. In some cases, foster children are eligible for benefits regardless of household income. Qualifying students receive meals or milk without charge or may pay a reduced price of no more than 40 cents for lunch and 30 cents for breakfast. Children from households whfese income is at or below the following levels are eligible for free or reduced-price meals or free milk. Master Hunter Program The Master Hunter Program is an advanced hunter education program designed to help hunters increase their knowledge of the sport, and particularly help them understand the concerns of private landowners. z Foster positive relationships between hunters and private landowners. Increase hunting access to private lands by giving landowners a way to identify hunters who have had advanced training. Improve the hunting experience for graduates. Improve the public image of hunters. The program includes a home study course, a four-hour class followed by a written test, a test of firearms proficiency, and a requirement to do 20 hours of volunteer work to benefit some aspect of natural resources. There also will be a check for game violations. No one with a violation in the past five years will be allowed to graduate. The department is actively working with private landowners to provide hunting access for master hunters to lands that are otherwise closed to the public. The major focus area is currently in the Alsea Unit, where a private timber company is allowing access to previously closed land only to graduates of the program. Additionally, master hunters applying between July 1 and July 31 are given priority when selecting hunters for emergency hunts. Master hunter only hunts: 823B N Bank Habitat (deer) 210F Lower Columbia (elk) 214H Salmon River Estuary (elk) Hunters who would like informa tion on the program should call 503-872-5264, ext. 5365, or visit the department’s Web page at www.dfw.state.or.us. Income Eligibility Guidelines (Effective July 1,2002, to June 30, 2003) Reduced-Price Meals Household Size Annual Month Week -1- 16,391 1,366 316 -2- 22,089 1,841 425 -3- 27,787 2,316 -3535 -4- 33.485 2,791 644 -5- 39,183 3,266 754 -6- 44,881 3,741 864 50,579 4,215 -7-K 973 -8- 56,277 4,690 1,083 (For each additional family member add +5,698 +475 + 110 Free Meals Household Size -1- -2- -3- Annual Month Week 11,518 960 222 15,522 1,294 299 19,526 1,628 376 -4- 23,530 1.961 453 15- 27,534 1 2,295 530 -6- 31,538 2,629 607 -7- 35,542 2,962 684 -8- 39,546 3,296 761 (For each additional family member add +4,004 +334 +77 C hildren in households receiving Food Stamps, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDP1R) are eligible for free meals. In August, the Department of Human Services (DHS) sends a notice/certification letter to households receiving Food Stamp benefits advising them of their eligibility for free meals or milk at schools operating the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, or Special Milk programs. Schools will accept the DHS notice/certification letter from students as proof of eligibility for free meals or milk. No other application or verification of eligibility is required for students listed on the DHS notification letter. Households not submitting the DHS notice/certification letter may complete a confidential application for free or reduced-price meals or free milk. A school official will review the confidential application and determine eligibility. Applications may be submitted anytime during the year. Information provided on an application may be verified at any time during the school year. An application cannot be approved unless it contains the following information: ♦ ♦ A Food Stamp or TANF case number for each child or an indication that the household receives FDPIR and the signature of an adult household member, or The names of all household members, the amount and source of income received by each household member in the prior month, the signature of an adult household member and the Social Security number (SSN) of the adult household member who signs the application (or a statement that the person has no SSN) Parents or guardians dissatisfied with the ruling of the school official who determines eligibility may discuss the decision with the official. Parents wishing to make a formal appeal may make an oral or written request to the school’s hearings office for a hearing on the decision. Households that receive free or reduced-price benefits must report to the school when their income increases more than $50 per month or $600 per year, when there are decreases in household size, or when they no longer receive Food Stamps, TANF, or FDPIR benefits. Parents should contact the school to request an application for benefits if the household no longer receives Food Stamps, TANF or FDPIR benefits, if household income decreases, if the household size increases, or if a family member becomes unemployed. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the state of Oregon prohibit discrimination in all USDA programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call 202-720-5964 (voice and TDD) or 1-888-271-5983, ext. 516 (toll-free). October 2002 □ Siletz News □ 11