2022-23 School Meal Information

2022-23 School Meal Information

Welcome to the 2022-23 school year, District 97 families! Below is important school meal information to help you prepare for the upcoming year. Breakfast and Lunch Menus for the 2022-23 school year are now available on the district website and school websites.

“Free School Meals for All” Ends
For the past two years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made it possible for school districts to serve all students free breakfast and lunch through waivers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The USDA free meal waiver is now expired and will not be extended for the upcoming school year. During the 2022-23 school year, all students will be required to pay for their breakfast and lunch meals unless they are directly approved by the State of Illinois or approved after completing the 2022-23 Free and Reduced Lunch Application (see below for instructions). 

Free or Reduced Meal Eligibility
Students may receive meals at a free or reduced cost either by being directly approved by the State of Illinois OR being approved after completing the 2022-23 Free and Reduced Lunch Application. In the coming weeks, all families who are directly approved by the state will receive an approval letter by email. If you receive a letter, there is NO NEED to complete an application. 

If you feel your student may qualify for free or reduced priced meals but do not receive an approval letter, please complete the 2022-23 Free and Reduced Lunch Application as soon as possible. There are several options for completing and submitting your application (see below).

  • Apply Online - We recommend families to complete the 2022-23 Free and Reduced Lunch application online. Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to easily set up a secure Mealtime account and complete the application online. 
  • Download, Print and Submit Application - For families who prefer not to use the online system, paper applications in English and Spanish are available to download from the district website or your student’s school website. Completed applications can be dropped off at your student’s school or the district office (260 Madison St.), or emailed to the district's food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at [email protected]. You can also fax the application to 708-524-3019.

Managing Student Meal Accounts
During the 2022-23 school year, payment for school meals can be made through an online portal at www.MyMealtime.com. Families can also make payments to their meal accounts by submitting a check payable to District 97, money orders or cash.

If you plan to use Mealtime, prior to the school year starting please take a look at your student’s account. There, you can see if your student will need funds added for the upcoming school year or if they have a meal balance that needs to be paid prior to school starting. If you do not have an account, you can easily create one by following step-by-step instructions on the MyMealtime website. 

We look forward to serving your family this year! If you have any questions about the District 97 food service program, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected]

Sincerely,

Carla Ellis
District 97 Food Service Coordinator