Student Meals Are Now Free at Comal ISD

Thanks to special funding from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), standard breakfast-and-lunch meals at Comal ISD are now free.

The district announced the change in an email to parents Tuesday. The USDA program covers meals provided to on-campus students in school cafeterias. Remote learners also can pick up curbside meals.

The program ends on Dec. 31.

Funding is expected to speed meal service as more students return to campus on Oct. 21 due to a change in instructional-delivery options, according to the email.

Money that is currently in a student’s account can still be used to purchase extras or a la carte items, which are not covered under the program. All funds currently in student accounts will remain there until normal meal pricing begins in January.

For more information, contact campus cafeteria managers or call the district’s Child Nutrition Department at 830-221-2051.

USDA announced on Aug. 31 it would extend several “flexibilities” through Dec. 30, allowing summer-meal program operators to continue serving free meals to all children in the all months.

“These waivers will allow school nutrition professionals to focus on nourishing hungry children for success, rather than scrambling to process paperwork and verify eligibility in the midst of a pandemic,” said School Nutrition Association (SNA) President Reggie Ross, SNS, in a USDA press release. “We look forward to continuing our dialogue with USDA to ensure school meal programs are equipped to meet the future needs of America’s students.”