The Catch Up: Lexington One announces free and reduced meal policy

Lexington One School District has announced its free and reduced breakfast and lunch policy for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year.

The criteria are determined by household size and income. The larger the household size, the higher the income threshold for free and reduced-price meals.

For school officials to determine eligibility, the household must provide a SNAP or TANF case number that means the household is already receiving assistance from one of these programs and a member’s signature adult in the household.

The household member completing the form will also provide the names of all household members, the name and last four digits of the Social Security number of the adult household member signing the application form, current income by source for each member of the household household and a signature from an adult member of the household certifying that the information provided is correct, according to the press release.

The District Eligibility Supervisor will review all applications to certify eligibility. Those unhappy with the decision can appeal to the school district’s chief financial officer.

If employment status or household size changes, then they can file a meal request with the school. These changes could make children in the home eligible for free and reduced-price meals.

Those interested in the program can view the entire policy at any school in the school district or at the district office.

Pelion schools eligible for free meals

All Pelion schools in Lexington County School District 1 will be eligible for free meals for the 2024-2025 school year.

Forts Pond Elementary, Pelion Elementary, Pelion Middle, and Pelion High School all participate in the community eligibility provisions of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

This provision provides parents of students at these schools with the opportunity for their children to receive free breakfast and lunch without having to complete a meal request, the press release states.

Parents who do not want their children to participate in this program or would like additional information can contact School Food Service Director Deidre Yonce.

SCDE will have more than 1,300 free meal sites for the summer

The South Carolina Department of Education is operating more than 1,300 free meal sites for students across the state this summer.

Any child aged 18 or younger can receive free breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks near them.

State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver said they are grateful to their participating partners.

“Our commitment to the well-being of South Carolina’s children does not stop once school is out. We are grateful to all of our partners who have stepped up to work with families to provide access to these nutritious meals to students across the Palmetto State,” she said. .

Meal times and type are flexible to allow for greater availability and easier meal pickup.

Locations in the Lexington area include Batesburg-Leesville Middle School, Airport High School, Batesburg-Leesville Elementary School and Herbert A. Wood Elementary School.

All South Carolina sites can be found by searching the USDA Summer Meal Site Finder online.

1 dead after Lake Murray drowning

The Lexington County Coroner’s Office has identified the person who drowned in Lake Murray near the 500 block of Windmere Drive on June 15.

Cody Miterko, a 27-year-old Columbia resident, was pulled from approximately 10 to 15 feet of water around 6:30 p.m. on June 15, the news release states. Miterko was pulled from the water after disappearing while swimming in the lake with friends.

An autopsy was performed on June 17 and confirmed the cause of death as drowning.

New principal at Lakeside Middle School named

The Lexington County School District Board of Trustees named Dr. Megan Carrero as the new principal of Lakeside Middle School at its June 11 meeting.

Carrero previously earned a bachelor of science degree in elementary education and psychology from Newberry College before receiving a master’s degree in educational administration and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of South Carolina.

She began her career in the Lexington Two School District in 2003 as a middle school science teacher. She was then promoted to assistant principal at RH Fulmer Middle School in 2008 before becoming principal at Fulmer Middle in 2013, where she has served in that role ever since.

Carrero was the 2022 Mid-Level Principal of the Year for the SC Association for School Administrators, a 2022 inductee into the Newberry College Hall of Master Teachers, and a 2023 inductee into the University of South Carolina Champions for Education.

“Dr. Megan Carrero is an accomplished educational leader and educator who has spent her entire 21-year educational career at the middle school level. She is a true champion for all middle school students, their teachers and their families,” Lexington One Superintendent Gerrita Postlewait said in the press release.

Lexington moves to .gov domain

The Lexington County Council recently approved moving its domain from LexSC.com to LexSC.gov effective immediately.

This step was taken to increase the security of the city’s online presence as well as to allow the city to benefit from additional supports from the federal government that were not previously available, according to the press release.

As of June 12, all city email addresses have changed from @LexSC.com to @LexSC.gov. Users are encouraged to update all website bookmarks and contact email addresses.