Important Cafeteria & School Meal Program Updates for 2025

We can’t wait to welcome students back to the cafeteria for the 2025-26 school year! To kick off the new year, we wanted to share a few things you and your child can look forward to when it comes to mealtime, including information on meal pricing, steps to apply for free and reduced-price meals.

For the upcoming 2025-26 school year, the State of Michigan has authorized universal free meals for all students. [This will be dependent on the State of Michigan Budget approval. It is currently in the legislation, but not yet approved]. 

Kingsley Area School is working closely with the Michigan Department of Education to monitor the status of the Michigan School Meals program, which currently provides free meals to all students.

At this time, the future of free breakfast and lunch beyond October 1, 2025, remains uncertain. What we can confirm: Every student enrolled in Kingsley Area School will continue to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day throughout the month of September. 

It is important to note that families should still complete the Household Education & Nutrition Benefits Form. 

If families complete the Household Education & Nutrition Benefits Form prior to September 7 at midnight they will be put into a drawing for a chance to win a Blackstone Grill, Yeti Cooler Bag, Smoker/Grill, or JBL Bluetooth speaker. They can stop into any cafeteria during open house to pick up a form or go to Kingsley.familyportal.cloud to apply for benefits.  

Why is financial information being requested?

The Household Education & Nutrition Benefits Form helps determine whether a student’s household qualifies for certain benefits. The total number of eligible students directly impacts the level of funding a school receives for vital programs and services. The more forms that are completed and returned, the more state and federal funding resources the school may be eligible to receive for educational programs—benefiting all students.

These supplemental grants and programs have the potential to offer support and services for our students including, but not limited to:

• Instructional Staff

• Teaching Supplies and Materials

• Counselors and Social Workers

• School Nurses

• Professional Learning

  
  

If you have any questions, please contact Kristy Donner at: Kdonner@kingsleyschools.org or (231) 263-5262 ext. 4055.

Please take a moment to complete the 100% confidential Household Education & Nutrition Benefits Form online at: kingsley.familyportal.cloud to complete the Household Education & Nutrition Benefits Form.

Thank you,

Joshua T. Rothwell

Superintendent