Food Service
GJSD Food Services
For any questions or concerns, please contact:
Erika Winney, School Food Director
ewinney@johnstownschools.org
(518) 762-1875
Free School Meals
All Greater Johnstown School District students are eligible to receive FREE school meals (1 breakfast and 1 lunch per day), regardless of family income, through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
No application is required; however, families should complete this Household Income Eligibility Form (HHIE) https://linqconnect.com/public/income-form/new?identifier=NULH2U. The data gathered from this form can qualify students for additional benefits and allows the district to receive additional state and federal funding. The online form only requires an income range and is confidential.
For questions about the HHIE form, please contact: Jennifer Radigan, Food Service Specialist, (518) 464-5106, Jennifer.Radigan@neric.org
Cafeteria Menus
You can view menus, allergens, and nutritional values on LINQ Connect, here: https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/NULH2U
If you have difficulty accessing the above menus, please email communications@johnstownschools.org.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served every school day as follows:
- Pleasant Avenue: 7:30 – 7:45 a.m.
- Warren Street: 7:30 – 7:45 a.m.
- Knox Junior High: 7:15 – 7:45 a.m.
- Johnstown High School: 7:15 – 7:40 a.m.
Note: When there is a two hour delay, breakfast is NOT served.
Research shows that children who eat breakfast:
- show improvement on math, reading and standardized test scores
- establish healthier habits for later in life
- have fewer absences and incidences of tardiness
- are more likely to behave better in school
- consume more calcium, fiber, foliate and protein
LINQ Connect Information
Students will continue to have individual school meal accounts on LINQ Connect. Parents/Guardians can manage those accounts here https://linqconnect.com/ and add funds for additional meals and snacks not included in the free breakfasts and lunches. Online deposits can be added to LINQ Connect here https://linqconnect.com/ or checks can be made payable to Greater Johnstown School District, Food Service Program.
Policies
Please visit https://go.boarddocs.com/ny/johnstown/Board.nsf/Public to view the following Greater Johnstown School District policies:
- 5000 District Wellness
- 5660 Meal Charging and Prohibition Against Meal Shaming
Meal Modification Statement/Notification
Meal Service to Children with Disabilities: Federal regulations require schools and institutions to serve meals at no extra charge to children with a disability, which may restrict their diet. A student with a disability is defined in 7CFR Part 15b.3 of Federal regulations, as one who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual, a record of such an impairment or being regarded as having such an impairment. All Food Service Areas will also be accessible to any/all individuals.
The School Nutrition Program’s regulations require that meals offered in the schools meet the meal patterns identified in the program regulations. Food substitutions may be made for medical or special dietary needs on a case-by-case basis if supported by a statement signed by a recognized medical authority. A recognized medical authority may include physicians, physician assistants or nurse practitioners. A request for a Meal Modification can also come from one of these persons.
The School District will review any requests for modification and accommodate wherever possible. If the exact request is not achievable, an alternate modification may be proposed. Families will have the opportunity to review the proposed alternate modification and file a grievance with the District’s 504 Coordinator. If necessary, an impartial hearing can be requested in order to review standard and alternative procedures.
Your child’s health is very important to us. Please have your medical authority complete and submit a notification to the school district’s School Lunch Director containing the required information needed to accommodate your child.
- The School Nutrition Program utilizes the Offer vs. Serve meal service at our elementary, middle and high schools, but not any pre-k buildings. This means that your child may be able to make choices for their meal and choose something else to which they are not allergic. School Nutrition personnel will make every attempt to accommodate your child’s dietary needs; at no cost to families.
- Please know that the School Nutrition Program is able to handle vegetarian and/or religious (i.e. no pork) dietary requests. Requests must be made through Food Service. Any major allergen requests must be made with the Nurse on Site.
- Parents and students are able to view school menus on the school website.
- Your child’s signed Notification Form will stay on file until the school nutrition department receives written notification to remove it.
Food Assistance Resources
Local Food Pantries
Local food pantry information is available at this link.
SNAP
SNAP provides monthly benefits to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other locations. SNAP helps families stretch their food budget so kids can get the nutrition they need to learn and grow. Apply for SNAP online at MyBenefits.ny.gov
The Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) offers one-on-one help applying for SNAP. NOEP can tell you if you may be eligible for SNAP, answer questions, and help with your application. It’s free and confidential. Find a NOEP Coordinator near you at FoodHelpNY.org.
Summer Food
Nutritious free meals are available for children and teens 18 and younger at many locations throughout the nation throughout the summer while school is out of session. Please visit the USDA website to find a location near you, or text “Summer Meals” to 97779 or call 1-866-348-6479 to find a site nearby.
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: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20PComplaint-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: