We are happy to announce that beginning this year, all students at Irene Reither Elementary School are eligible to eat school meals for free. This includes both breakfast and lunch.
House Bill 1238 was passed allowing qualifying elementary schools to serve free meals to students. The state determines the eligibility of schools based on free and reduced meals percentage. Qualifying schools have a free and reduced percentage of 40 percent or higher. This means that while all students at IRE will be receiving free meals this year, in order to keep our eligibility next year we need families to continue to turn in their free and reduced meals applications. Our free and reduced meal percentages don’t just impact our food program. The state takes our free and reduced meal percentages into consideration when looking at fees, grants and programs in our district.
Free and reduced meals applications are available to print on our website and are also available in school offices. Applications are available in both English and Spanish.
Only complete meals taken by students qualify to be free. If students choose not to take a complete meal, but want to purchase a milk, they will be available $0.50, as directed by OSPI.
If you have any questions about our food service program, please contact Rob Dunn, Director of Food and Nutrition at 360-318-2267.