August 14, 2025

Dear Parents and Guardians:

As of right now, all breakfast and lunches are free to Michigan public school students under the Michigan Meals program, until September 30, 2025.  October 1st is the start of fiscal year 2026 for the state of Michigan. Due to the lack of a state school aid budget, funding for this program will end on September 30, 2025. Our administrative team will be monitoring this information and will update you as soon as possible. The most important thing you can do at this moment is to complete the free and reduced application.  It is important for all families to continue sharing household income information with our schools to receive full access to federal and state funding for educational programs that our students are entitled to. 

Please take a moment to complete the forms and return them to your student’s school. If you are viewing this letter electronically, simply click the link here to access the form. Once you click the link, hit the “apply for benefits" button. The Application for Free or Reduced Meals collects information needed to ensure the school receives state and federal funding for education programs. Please complete these forms even if you don’t think you will qualify. Without this information, BTS could lose important state funding for educational programs that our students are entitled to. These supplemental grants and programs have the potential to offer support and services for our students including, but not limited to:

• Instructional staff (ex. Reading Interventionists, Math Tutors, Academic & Behavior Aids)

• Teaching supplies and materials

• Counselors and Social Workers

• School Nurses

• Professional Learning for staff

• Parent and Community engagement supplies and activities

• Technology

• Summer Food Service Program

What do I need to do? Please complete the attached form and return it to your students’ school. Your assistance in helping us maintain our current funding levels is appreciated. The more forms returned the better.

What else might my student or household be eligible for? Based on the information you gave on your Free or Reduced Application, your child MAY qualify for other programs such as: 

• Summer EBT

• Pay to play or Pay to Participate 

• Programs that provide food support 

• Programs that provide field trip support 

• Programs that provide school supplies or assist with school fees

• Programs that provide holiday support 

• Potential household support for cable and internet

You must complete the Sharing Information with Other Programs form to grant permission for your eligibility information to be shared.  All forms will be available on the school website kingsford.org. 

Please visit https://www.kingsford.org/frequently-asked-questions for FAQ’s related to the BTS Food Service program.

If you have any questions, please contact Chris Tramontin, ctramontin@kingsford.org, or Mary Lee, mlee@kingsford.org 906-779-2631

Sincerely,

Chris Tramontin
Food Service Director

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf), from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

 (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture    (2)  fax:    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

 Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights        (3)  email: program.intake@usda.gov.

 1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

 Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;                               This institution is an equal opportunity provider.