Everett Public Schools families who file a single application by Thursday, Oct. 1, could qualify for reduced sports fees, discounted AP, SAT and ACT exams, lower utility rates and free or reduced-price school meals.
The district is pushing the Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Benefit (CNEEB) application ahead of that date.
Food and Nutrition Services Director Adam Pazder said even families who doubt they will qualify should take a few minutes to apply. The application is available online at myschoolapps.com.
The CNEEB form, required by the state each school year, combines the free and reduced-price meal application with a family income survey. Households that meet income guidelines can unlock benefits beyond the cafeteria, according to the district: reduced college application fees, technology support, internet discounts and YMCA memberships.
Families with students in grades 6 through 12 must also complete a separate annual consent form to qualify for athletics and ASB fee reductions.
The state's Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction notes that CNEEB applications are accepted throughout the school year. The district has emphasized Oct. 1 as its target date for early submission.
15,000 meals a day
Behind that push is a nutrition operation serving more than 15,000 meals daily through breakfast, lunch, after-school snacks and dinners. That includes about 3,000 breakfasts and 9,000 lunches at all schools, according to the district's food and nutrition services page, with snacks and dinners making up the rest.
All meals meet or exceed federal nutrition standards, according to the district.
Pazder, a registered dietitian nutritionist, said the department is working to simplify menus by cutting added sugar, unnecessary additives and artificial food dyes. Menus emphasize whole grains, lean protein and produce, some of it locally grown.
"That's 15,000 opportunities to care for a child, share a smile, and help a student have a positive moment in their day," Pazder said in a Sept. 15 district post.
The district participates in several federal nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grants.
Sally Raby, kitchen manager at Eisenhower Middle School, is in her 26th year with the district. Last year she received a pink apron to mark her 25th anniversary, a tradition that has continued for decades. She said she still runs into former students, now adults, who recognize her from their school years.
Filing a CNEEB application also helps schools access additional resources that support student programs, according to the district. Families can apply at myschoolapps.com using zip code 98203, or contact Food and Nutrition Services at 425-385-4380.
