Public Announcement for School Needs

 Dear Parent or Guardian: 

We are pleased to inform you that CANASTOTA CSD will be implementing a meal certification option available to schools participating in the National School Lunch and/or School Breakfast Programs for 2026-2027 school year. 

What does this mean for your child(ren) attending the school(s) identified above? 

All students enrolled at CANASTOTA CSD are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and/or lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the 2026-2027 school year. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or apply. 

2026-2027 is the last year of Canastota's approved CEP status. What this means is effective 2027-2028 all students would move back to free, reduced or full pay. Canastota will actively apply for continued CEP status, but we need your help! We highly encourage parents and guardians to complete a family income form and return it to food service. This data is critical for the district to apply and maintain its CEP status beginning in 2027-2028. This does not change your child's FREE status for 2026-27 but allows the district to apply for the next round of CEP. Additionally, this data will allow the district to apply for additional grant opportunities. 

If you have any further questions, please contact us at: Canastota Central Schools, Food Service Dept. 315-697-4000. 

Sincerely, 

Hollie L Ackerman 
School Lunch Manager 

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: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.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
   Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
   1400 Independence Avenue, SW
   Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
2. fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email: Program.Intake@usda.gov
   
   This institution is an equal opportunity provider.