Northwest Local School District

FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH INFORMATION

SCHOOL FEE WAIVER INFORMATION

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year.

Once again we have the ability to apply for Free and Reduced Lunch ONLINE.  We are encouraging you do this as you have the benefit of knowing whether you have been approved right away.

Please review the following information carefully.  Students who qualify for free and reduced lunches also qualify for free fees. 

A NEW APPLICATION MUST BE COMPLETED AND APPROVED FOR THE 2024-2025 SCHOOL YEAR IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THE WAIVER FOR FREE OR REDUCED FEES. 

There are two methods for qualification:

• Direct Certification
  • If you received a letter stating your student is ELIGIBLE FOR DIRECT CERTIFICATION, YOU DO NOT need to fill out an application for free and reduced lunches.  Your student is automatically eligible for free lunches and the fee waiver.  You will however need to sign and date the (colored copy) letter you received and return the letter to your school office to have your Fees waived. Keep the white copy for your own records.  You should be able to access your student’s information online as soon as the information is available or at your school’s registration in August.
  • All children living in the household with a student who qualifies under Direct Certification are also eligible for Free Lunches and fee waivers.   Please contact Food Service Supervisor Debbie Seifert on (330) 854-5453 if there are additions in the household that were not listed in the letter.
• Online Application Process
  • This year we are processing our Free and Reduced applications online.  See the Free and Reduced Applications and instructions links at the bottom of this page. The instruction sheets will assist you when filling out the online application.
  • YOU ONLY NEED TO FILL OUT “ONE” APPLICATION FOR ALL STUDENTS LIVING IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD NO MATTER WHAT SCHOOL THEY ATTEND. 
  • You will need the Student ID for your child which is the 9 digit number they use for logging onto computer, or you may contact the school office to find out.

Once you have filled out the application and it has been approved for Free Fees, you will be able to access your student’s registration information online within 12- 48 hours.

• If you are unable to fill out the application online you may pick up an application at any school Office. To be approved for a fee waiver you must complete Sec. 5 on the application.  Process times may be up to five (5) business days. 
  • Mail the application to:  Northwest Primary School at 8436 Erie Ave., NW, Canal Fulton, Ohio 44614, Attention:  Debbie Seifert, Food Service Supervisor.
  • Return application with student to any school office.
  • Parent may drop off at school
• Last Year’s Lunch Status Will Carry Over For The First Two Weeks Of The New School Year
• PLEASE SUBMIT NEW APPLICATION BY Friday, August 30, 2024

If you have any other questions please contact Debbie Seifert, Food Service Supervisor on (330) 854-5453.

• CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE 
• CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD AN APPLICATION 

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/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
   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.

MEAL CHARGING POLICY

This Meal Charging Policy outlines the procedures and expectations for students and families
regarding meal payments at Northwest Local Schools. 

1. Forgotten Lunch Money:​​​​​​​
   • If lunch money is forgotten, students can charge one meal with the expectation that the balance will be paid the following day.
   • The parent/guardian will be contacted via charge letter or a phone call to discuss how to resolve the balance.
   • If payment is not made, a letter will be sent with information about the charge policy and a Free/Reduced lunch application.
   • There will be no charging of lunches after May 15. Make sure students have money for purchases.​​​​​​​
2. Meal Charging Guidelines:​​​​​​​
   • A la carte items cannot be charged.
   • Students need cash or a sufficient account balance to make purchases.
   • If a student’s balance falls below $5.00, they will be verbally notified at the cash register.​​​​​​​
3. Account Management:​​​​​​​
   • Parents can deposit money into their child’s account using the online system PaySchools Central. A small fee is charged for depositing money.
   • You can access through Northwest website
   • For the online system the student’s 10-digit ID number is required for access.
   • Send cash or check with the student. One check can be written for all siblings.​​​​​​​
4. Free and Reduced Lunches:​​​​​​​
   • Families who qualify based on income can apply for free or reduced lunches.
   • The application must be submitted each school year.
   • Applications can be completed online through our website or a paper application can be obtained through the school office.

This policy is designed to ensure that students have access to meals while maintaining clear guidelines for managing lunch balances. Parents are encouraged to use the online system or submit payments promptly to avoid any issues with meal charges.

“This institution is an equal opportunity provider”

2025-2026 Meal Prices

PayForIt is now PaySchools Central

Payschools Central is an updated version of PayForIt and allows families to deposit money on their child's account for meals, school fees, and co-curricular activities via the Internet 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A mobile app is available in the iOS App and Google Play stores.

All account information was migrated from PayForIt to PaySchools Central except auto-replenishment.  This will have to be set up in PaySchools Central if you would like to use the feature.

By logging onto PaySchools Central, you can easily:

• Set up an account
• Deposit money at your convenience
• Set e-mail reminders to notify you when your child's account gets low*
• Set up recurring payments
• Check your child's account balance at no cost*
• Request an activity report so you can see what your child has purchased in the previous 30 days*

To set up an account, you will need:

• A valid e-mail address
• A credit card (Credit cards will only be charged IF you choose to make a payment)
• Your child's student ID number (This can be found on report cards and interims, or you can contact your child's school). This is also the username you use for the Pinnacle Internet Viewer.
• When you initially set up an account, it may take up to 24 hours for your child's account information to become available

You may set up a single account that can include all children in your family. If you choose to put money on your child's account using PaySchools Central, the company will charge a processing fee per transaction. Once money is put on your child's account, it will typically appear within 24 hours.

Please use the following contacts if you need help with your PaySchools Central account.
Email: psc_help@payschools.com
Telephone: 1-877-393-6628

PaySchools Full User Guide

Click to view school menus!

Click here to access the USDA Civil Rights Complaint Form

• Northwest Primary 
• W.S. Stinson Elementary 
• Northwest Middle School 
• Northwest High School ​​​​​​​