VWCS to offer meals to all district students

VW independent/submitted information

According to a news release from the Van Wert City School District, all students in the district are now eligible for “grab and go” meals.

The release contained a statement from the VWCS administration and Board of Education:

“With Governor Mike DeWine’s decision to close all Ohio K-12 schools in order to help with the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Van Wert City Schools believes it is our responsibility to continue to provide meals for the students of our district. As a result, the Van Wert City Schools Food Services Department will be providing meals for children following spring break, beginning Monday, March 23.”

The Van Wert City Schools Plan is as follows:

Van Wert City Schools, operating in compliance with the waiver guidelines from the Ohio Department of Education, will not charge families that qualify for free and reduced price meals. However, any VWCS student, Vantage Career Center student from the VWCS District, and Van Wert Synergy student will be accommodated without charge, starting then.

Distribution of “grab and go” meals will occur at two sites: the S.F. Goedde Building gymnasium (pick-up at the gym’s Jefferson Street entrances, Doors 7 and 8), and the Ohio City Village Hall in downtown Ohio City. Ohio City families must enter at the north door of Village Council Chambers.

Distribution time is from 10:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Student identification numbers at the time of pick-up are needed in order for students to receive each meal, in order to comply with the ODE waiver guidelines. In order to receive reimbursement, districts must document each meal recipient using student lunch identification numbers. One day’ worth of meals may be picked up each day.

To respect and honor “social distancing” guidelines, all students do not need to be present to receive “grab and go” meals. The district requests that one family member be present to receive the meals each day. That person must have the ID numbers of all students in the family receiving meals that day.

“Grab and go” meals will include both breakfast and lunch meals.

Currently, VWCS will remain closed until April 3, while the administration continues to work closely with the Van Wert County Health Department during this challenging time for everyone. School officials continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and are following the recommendations of federal, state, and local health officials.

For more information and for questions, call the Superintendent’s Office at 419.238.0648.