Frequently Asked Questions

How does a family apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits for a student?

Food Services utilizes both online and paper applications to determine a student's eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals. The online application is available to families beginning annually in mid-August via SKYWARD Family Access. If you need Family Access login information, please contact your school's secretary. Applications can also be found at the district office, your child's school or printed from our web page. Printable applications in English and Spanish, as well as, a link to other languages can also be found online at Free & Reduced Applications and Information. Paper applications can either be turned into your child's school, the District Office or mailed to SCSD Food Services at 26920 Pioneer Highway Stanwood, WA 98292 for processing.

Do I need to fill out an application for each child?

No, complete one Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all the required information. If you receive assistance through DSHS, please make sure to mark the appropriate box and include your case number. Return the completed application to your child's school or the SCSD Food Services Department, which is located at 26920 Pioneer Highway Stanwood, WA 98282 for processing

Will the information on my application be verified?

Yes, we may ask you to send written proof, through the verification process.

May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. Citizen?

Yes, by law we cannot ask for citizenship.

Can a student qualify for meal benefits (free or reduced-price) without completing a school meal application?

Yes. The Food Services Department directly certifies students for meal benefits through a data matching process with DSHS. Families who receive assistance benefits from programs such as Basic Food, TANF, or FDRIP are automatically qualified for free meals through this matching process which occurs several times during the school year. Students eligible for Medicaid benefits may qualify for free or reduced-priced meals. Additionally, free meals are extended to students who are certified as McKenney Vento (Homeless), Migrant, or Foster. However, to ensure your children qualify for free or reduced meals, a complete application with a case number is encouraged. Please note: Families are responsible for the cost of meals provided to a student prior to eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals being established.

How are families informed if they qualify for free or reduced-price meal benefits?

Once processing is completed, our department first utilizes email (if available) to notify families of eligibility status. If no email address is available, a letter will be mailed home identifying the student's eligibility for free, reduced, or paid meals to the address on file. We also post eligibility letters on SKYWARD Family Access to the primary parent and/or guardian's account on file. Processing of meal benefit applications may take up to 10 days. Families are encouraged to complete the online application, as early as possible, to ensure that a student's eligibility status is properly established for the school year. Families requesting replacement eligibility letters can find them on SKYWARD Family Access or can contact Food Services at (360) 629-1411. Please note: Families are responsible for the cost of meals provided to a student prior to eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals being established.

Do families need to complete an application for free or reduced-price meal benefits each year?

Yes, if you are wanting free or reduced meals. Students returning to a school in the Stanwood Camano School District start the first 30 days of the school year retaining their prior year's eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals. Families are encouraged during this initial time period to submit an application for the current year for processing. Families who do not have a current year application for their student processed during the first 30 school days will "roll over" to the paid status on the 31st school day, which is typically mid-October. Please note: Families are responsible for the cost of meals provided to a student prior to eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals being established.

Can a family submit an application for school meal benefits anytime during the year?

Yes, while applications for the current year are typically processed from August to October, if a family's income or household size changes during the year, an online or paper application can be submitted (or resubmitted) to determine eligibility for free or reduced-priced meals. Application processing closes on the last day of the school year. Eligibility will not be backdated, it begins the day the application was processed.

What is included in a meal?

Breakfast — In schools where a breakfast program is offered, all students, regardless of their eligibility for free, reduced, or paid meals, are offered a variety of entrée options each day. In addition to entrees, students may select from a variety of fresh, canned, or dried fruits, 100% fruit juice and pick their choice of milk (1% white milk, non-fat chocolate milk). In order to count as a reimbursable USDA school meal - of the four food groups offered (milk, fruit, grain, meat, or meat alternate) students must take what amounts to three items out of the four groups, a ½ cup fruit serving is required to be one of the three items.

Lunch — All students, regardless of their eligibility for free, reduced, or paid meals, are offered a variety of entrée options each day. These entrée options are served through the "mainline" in the cafeteria. In addition to entrees, students in the mainline may select from a variety of fresh, canned, or dried fruits and vegetables on the salad bar and pick their choice of milk (1% or non-fat white milk or non-fat chocolate milk). In order to count as a reimbursable USDA school meal - of the five food groups offered (milk, fruit, vegetable, grain, meat, or meat alternate) students must take what amounts to three servings out of the five groups. A ½ cup serving of fruit and/or vegetable is required to be one of the three choices.

A la Carte Options — In addition to the "meal," Food Services provides students with the opportunity to purchase additional food or beverage items through a la carte choices available on the mainline or via the a la carte Line in the Middle & High Schools. A la carte items may be purchased with cash or through a student's school meal account. A la carte may not be charged to a student's account if they do not have money. Examples of items sold a la carte include bottled water, carbonated fruit juices, bottled juices, chips, cookies, fresh fruit cups, a single slice of pizza, bagel and cream cheese, yogurt parfaits, etc.

How can I pay for school meals?

Food Services offers a variety of convenient ways to pay for school meals. Checks and cash are accepted by the Lunchroom Cashier, either as a pre-paid deposit to a student's account or for purchasing individual meals, milk, or other a la carte items. If sending cash, insert cash into a sealed envelope with your student's name, and the lunch number clearly printed on the front of the envelope. If sending a check, include your student's name and lunch number in the notes section of the check. Checks should be made payable to Stanwood Camano School District (or SCSD).

Student meals may also be paid for with a credit card online through SKYWARD Family Access via RevTrak. RevTrak charges users a payment transaction of $1.50 per transaction. Parents may monitor their student's account history and view purchases without a fee. Click here for directions on how to make a payment.

What are the school meal prices for the current school year?

Elementary: Breakfast $1.50 and Lunch $3.25
Middle School: Breakfast $1.75 and Lunch $3.50
High School: Breakfast $1.75 and Lunch $3.50

Adults at all schools: Breakfast $3.00 and Lunch $5.00
Milk is $0.50     Juice is $1.00

How does a family request a refund on their student's school meal account?

A refund request can be made at the child's school through your child's cafeteria, their school's Main Office or by emailing [email protected] or calling Jennifer Dahl @360-629-1411. Refunds are made to the primary guardian on file, regardless of who made the payment to the account. Processing of refunds may take up to 10 business days.

Cash refunds are offered through your child's school if the balance is less than $10. Credit card refunds are not available at this time.

Is it possible to move funds between the school meal accounts of two siblings?

Yes, requests for transfers between student accounts may be made via phone or in-person in your child's cafeteria by, or by contacting Jennifer Dahl @ 360-629-1411 or [email protected] or Don Venetti @360-629-1208 or [email protected]

Where can I find a school breakfast and lunch menu?

Menus for elementary, middle, and high schools can be found by are available on the left-hand side of this page towards the top, under Elementary Menus, Middle School Menus, and High School Menus.

My child has a special dietary need. May they still participate in the school meal program at their school?

Yes. Parent Information: Special Dietary Needs Accommodations in Child Nutrition Services(English) & Parent Information Special Dietary Needs Accommodations in Child Nutrition Services (Spanish). We may request a Special Dietary Accommodations form (English), Special Dietary Accommodations (Spanish) form completed by the child's physician, to be submitted to Food Services first to ensure that proper foods are provided. Families and students can access nutritional facts and allergen information on Nutritional Information Website.

Our family is vegetarian. Are vegetarian lunches available?

Meatless choices are available every day. Some of the lunch choices available include salad bar, yogurt parfaits, giant pretzels, toasted cheese sandwiches, cheese pizza, macaroni and cheese, and vegetable lasagna with tomato sauce. Families following strict vegan regimes may need to provide lunch from home.

How do I open a lunch account for my student?

When you enroll your student in school, they are automatically issued a Food Services meal account. They are given a seven-digit student ID number (lunch number) which they keep throughout their years in the Stanwood Camano School District. Students enter their seven-digit student ID into a keypad to access their meal account. Each student is encouraged to memorize their own number so that students move quickly and efficiently during the meal periods. Families are expected to maintain positive balances on their students' accounts.

Can parents eat with their students?

We welcome parents to eat with their student(s). Adult meal prices are $3.00 for breakfast and $5.00 for lunch at all schools in the Stanwood Camano School District.

What if I forget to send lunch money to school?

Students will not be denied a meal. Please send lunch money to cover the cost of the meal as soon as possible.

If my student changes schools, does their money go with them?

Yes, if they change schools within the Stanwood Camano School District their money and free/reduced status will follow them. If your students plan to move out of the Stanwood Camano School District, please request a refund.

What if my child is moving from a CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) or Provision 2 school?

If your child or children are moving from a CEP or Provision 2 school, please notify the Food Services Department immediately so that we can help you navigate the Free & Reduced Lunch Program available in our district.

How do I contact the Stanwood Camano Food Services Department?

Food Service office hours are from 11 am. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Stanwood Camano Food Service Department

26920 Pioneer Highway

Stanwood, WA 98292

Director - Don Vennetti

360-629-1208 or [email protected]

Food Services Secretary -Jennifer Dahl

360-629-1411 or [email protected]