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Cafeteria Resources

Welcome to Food Services

A blue circle logo with a white eagle, a plate with a heart, a fork and knife, and the text 'Copiague Schools Food Services'.

MaryAnne Metzak, MS, RDN, CDN

Director of Cafeteria Services

631-842-4010 x 451

mmetzak@copiague.net

 

 

A handout with fruits and vegetables that explains about the free meal program for the 25-26 school year

 Food Service and Student Wellness

Information & Resources

  • What is CEP?
    CEP allows ALL enrolled students to receive breakfast and lunch at no cost. CEP is a non-pricing meal service option available for schools in qualifying areas. 

    Am I paying for this with my school tax dollars? 
    Federal tax dollars collected from United States citizens across the country (including our community) are used to fund the CEP program locally and elsewhere. CEP is available for districts within economically disadvantaged areas, and the Copiague School District has applied and been selected to participate based on several factors, including commonwealth ratio.

    Do staff and teachers get to eat at no cost, too?
    No – meals are available at no cost only to enrolled students at your school. Staff may purchase meals in the cafeteria.
     
    Do families still need to fill out a “Free and Reduced Lunch Form?"
    No. However, families will need to fill out a CUFSD Household Income form that can be found online. Families need to fill out the form electronically and they can access it through this link.
     
    If students are all receiving free meals, why do families still need to fill out the application?
    It is very important that families complete the CUFSD Household Income form EVERY year. As a district, we are eligible for additional funding by using data from qualifying CUFSD Household Income forms. Qualifying families that complete the form can also receive additional benefits – reduced or free fees, ACT/SAT testing fees, college application fees, etc.
     
    Can students purchase additional meals, drinks and/or snacks? 
    Yes. The first breakfast meal and first lunch meal of each school day are free for all students. Any additional items purchased à la carte would need to be paid for by the student/family.
     
    What if students only want to purchase a single item, like a milk or an entrée?
    CEP requires that only complete meals be served at no cost. We encourage students take a complete meal for breakfast and lunch as a healthier, no-cost option.

  • Federal regulations require schools and institutions to serve meals at no extra charge to those children whose disability restricts their diets in such a way that they cannot fully participate in the food service program without some modification to the foods offered on the scheduled menu. You must request the meal modifications from the school and provide the school with medical documentation from a medical doctor or licensed practitioner. Contact the Director of Food Services, at 842-4010, extension 451 or email mmetzak@copiague.edu to discuss the meal modification plan for your student.

  • Summer Grocery Benefit for Kids 

    SUN Bucks provides grocery benefits per eligible school-age child when school is out for summer. SUN Bucks can be used to purchase food from authorized retailers in participating states. It may also be known as Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (or Summer EBT) in certain locations.

    For additional information please visit NYS Summer EBT Card Program

  • In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

    Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

    To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

    1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
    2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
    3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

    USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

    De conformidad con la ley federal de derechos civiles, y las regulaciones y políticas de derechos civiles del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA, por sus siglas en inglés), el USDA, sus agencias, oficinas y empleados, y las instituciones que participan en los programas del USDA o los administran, tienen prohibido discriminar basándose en la raza, color, origen nacional, religión, sexo, identidad de género (incluida la expresión de género), orientación sexual, discapacidad, edad, estado civil, estado familiar/parental, ingresos derivados de un programa de asistencia pública o ideología política, y tomar represalias por actividad previa sobre derechos civiles, en cualquier programa o actividad dirigida o financiada por el USDA (no todas las bases aplican a todos los programas). Las fechas límite de la presentación de quejas y recursos legales varían según el programa o incidente.

    Las personas con discapacidades que requieren medios de comunicación alternativos para recibir información sobre el programa (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lengua de señas estadounidense, etcétera) deben contactar la agencia responsable o al TARGET Center del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY), o contactar al USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Retransmisión llamando al (800) 877-8339. Además, la información del programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas distintos al inglés.

    Para presentar una queja sobre discriminación en el programa, complete el Formulario de quejas sobre discriminación en el programa, AD-3027, que se encuentra en http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html y en cualquier oficina del USDA, o escriba una carta dirigida al USDA y proporcione en ella toda la información solicitada en el formulario. Para solicitar una copia del formulario de quejas, llame al (866) 632-9992. Envíe su formulario completo o carta al USDA por los siguientes medios:

    (1) correo postal: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

    (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; o

    (3) correo electrónico: program.intake@usda.gov.

    USDA es un proveedor, empleador y entidad crediticia que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.