Stanwood-CamanoSchool District

The Stanwood-Camano School Board discussed school meal pricing during the regular board meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.

School lunches will cost 25 cents more this school year. The federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) requires an annual calculation using the Paid Lunch Equity Tool, which indicates the district needs to increase meal prices by 50 cents — however, districts are allowed to spread the increase over two years.

About 1,375 lunches are served each day in the Stanwood-Camano School District. The meal prices for this upcoming year:

Elementary (grades K-5)

Secondary (grades 6-12)

Breakfast prices for students will not change. However, the cost of breakfast for adults will increase 25 cents.

Student meal prices have remained the same since 2018-19. Adult prices have increased with costs. However, meals were free during the COVID-19 pandemic because the district received a federal waiver for meal costs. 

The district estimates the cost of a school lunch is less than what a family would pay at a grocery store and to prepare a similar meal. In addition, families can have the confidence their student is receiving a meal adhering to USDA nutritional value recommendations. 

Free and Reduced Meals

We strongly encourage ALL families to submit a Free and Reduced Meal application. Completing the application takes less than 10 minutes, and you only need to complete one meal application per family.

Free and reduced-price meals may be obtained by any student — at any time during the school year — whose family income falls within the guidelines set by the US Department of Agriculture. For assistance, call 360-629-1200 or email [email protected]

Applications can be completed online via Skyward Family Access by clicking the Food Service tab and then Applications to begin. Families can also download a form to complete or find applications at any school or the district office.

All application information is confidential and is used only to determine eligibility for the program. 

Students receiving meals under this plan remain anonymous because they use their student ID number to access their account, same as all students. 

Those who qualify for Free and Reduced Meals may also receive additional benefits such as reduced fees. A consent form to share your eligibility status may be needed to receive these benefits. 

For access to nutritious food outside the school day, visit the Stanwood Camano Food Bank at 27030 102nd Ave NW, Stanwood. For more information, visit stanwoodcamanofoodbank.org

Why Choose School Meals?

• It’s tasty! Healthy and well-balanced meals offered daily

• It’s easy! Time saving and convenient for busy families

• It’s affordable! A school breakfast and lunch cost less than what a family would pay at a grocery store and to prepare a similar meal 

Menus

• Menu selections have options in both entrée and side dishes

• Menus meet the USDA guidelines and are age appropriate

• Menus and nutritional/allergy information are available online 

What makes a meal? 

• Stanwood-Camano School District follows strict USDA meal pattern requirements, to ensure all students are receiving healthy, well-balanced meals.

• Breakfast includes: Entrée, fruit, juice, and milk

• Lunch includes: Meat (or meat alternative), whole grains, milk, fruits, and vegetables

For more information and menus, please visit our Food Services website.

Donations

At its meeting on Aug. 8, the Board also accepted these generous donations and are thankful for the associated donors:

• $647.80 from the Stanwood High School Booster Club to cover the transportation costs for the girls’ basketball team to attend basketball camp at Ilwaco High School on June 19, 2023.

• $1,145.84 from the Stanwood Elementary School PTO to cover the transportation costs for the field trips to Iverson Beach, Hibulb Cultural Museum, the Camano Island Schoolhouse, and the Pearce Family Farm, during the 2022-2023 school year.

• $38,811.04 from the Stanwood-Camano Area Foundation through a grant received by the Making Life Work collaboration to cover the remaining costs of the portable for the Transitional Kindergarten program at Twin City Elementary School.

For more information about the meeting, see the agenda or watch a video recording of a meeting.

The school board will next host a public hearing during its regular 6 p.m. Aug. 22 meeting for the 2023-24 budget. Learn more about the district budget on our Finance webpage.

Meetings are in the boardroom at the Stanwood-Camano School District Administration & Resource Center at 26920 Pioneer Highway in Stanwood.

For more about the School Board, click HERE