Student Meals

"Real food isn't reformulated" - Michael Jochner 2026

This is what drives our nutrition team. We source locally, organically, and regeneratively, with a focus on scratch cooking. We know where are berries are grown, our napkins made, and our beef rasied. Our meals exceed all USDA and CDE standards, plus it tastes delicious!

Check the FarmTECH link to our 20 acres district farm. We're one year into the farm build and already growing food for our students. This includes some longterm planning, as we planted new fruit trees, grapes, berries, and much more. Finally, all our lettuce for the entire district is grown by us in our high-tech hydroponic shipping contianers. FarmTECH link(right).

Still think school food is frozen pizzas? Check out our Eat Real Certification(right).

farm map button link to our map of our local farming partners

special meal request button to the application

Additional Information

Morgan Hill Unified School District in Morgan Hill, California today announced that it will be serving meals to students under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs for the 2026-27 school year. All students will be served breakfast and lunch at no charge under the California Universal Meals Program at the following sites:

Live Oak High School

Ann Sobrato High School

Central Continuation

Martin Murphy Middle School

Britton Middle School

Barrett Elementary School

El Toro Elementary School

Jackson School

Nordstrom Elementary School

Los Paseos Elementary School

Paradise Elementary School

P.A. Walsh Elementary School

San Martin Gwinn School

For additional information, please contact:

Michael Jochner, Director of Student Nutrition & Records Retention
jochnerm@mhusd.org
408-201-6126
15600 Concord Circle
Morgan Hill, CA 95037

While the program will offer free Universal Meals for all students, households will continue to be able to complete an application for free meals, which may support the school district’s local education funding and could also qualify the family for additional benefits. Regardless of your determined eligibility status, your child will continue to receive free meals for the 2026-27 school year.

Free Meal Income Eligibility Guidelines

Households do not need to submit an application when the household receives a notification letter saying that all children automatically qualify for free meals when any household member receives benefits from SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR. Children who meet the definition of foster, homeless, migrant, or runaway, and children enrolled in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals. Contact school officials if any child in the household is not on the notification letter.

Applications will be sent to the household with a letter about the free and reduced-price meal program. Households that want to apply for meal benefits, must fill out one online application for all children in the household at https://linqconnect.com/ The school will let you know if your application is approved or denied for free meals.

Households may turn in an application at any time during the school year. If you are not eligible now, but your household income goes down, household size goes up, or a household member starts receiving SNAP, TANF, or FDPIR, you may turn in an application at that time. Information given on the application will be used to determine eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school officials. The last four digits of the Social Security number from any adult household or checking that you do not have a Social Security number is required if you include income on the application.

Households that receive Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals by filling out an application.

Foster children are eligible for free meals and may be included as a household member if the foster family chooses to also apply for the non-foster children on the same application. Including foster children as a household member may help the non-foster children qualify for free or reduced-price meals. If the non-foster children are not eligible, this does not keep foster children from receiving free meals.

Your child’s eligibility status from last school year will continue into the new school year for up to 30 school days or until the school processes your new application, or your child is otherwise certified for free or reduced-price meals.

If you do not agree with the decision or results of verification, you may discuss it with school officials. You also have the right to a fair hearing, which may be requested by calling or writing to the hearing official:

Michael Jochner
15600 Concord Circle
Morgan Hill, CA 9037
408-201-6126

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

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 agency (state or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (AD-3027), found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html 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
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

(2) Fax: 202-690-7442

(3) E-mail: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Meal Count and Claiming Procedures

Morgan Hill Unified School District

Student Nutrition Services

Meal Count & Claiming Procedures

Revised July 1, 2023

Morgan Hill Unified School District participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, the Seamless Summer Option, and CACFP Supper Programs.

This SFA operates under the California Universal Meals program. All students may receive one breakfast and one lunch for free each school day regardless of their eligibility status. Because our SFA participates in the California Universal Meals program, we are not collecting unpaid meal debts.

For accurate program oversight, the following procedures have been implemented.

Eligibility

The SFA utilizes the state prototype applications for free and reduced-price meals.
The SFA utilizes the state prototype letter to households for free and reduced-price meals applications
The SFA utilizes the state prototype letter to households for direct certification.
The SFA utilizes the state prototype public media release.
The SFA utilizes the current year's state agency income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced-price meal applications.
Applications are distributed to households via email and posted online. Paper applications are also available at the front office of each school. Overt identification is prevented by making meal applications available to all families regardless of eligibility status.
Applications are distributed to families at the beginning of the school year and are always available online or in the front office throughout the year.
Applications are accepted from all households at the beginning of the school year and throughout the year via multiple methods. Families are welcome to submit in person or via mail to the child nutrition office, to the cafeteria, or to the front office of the school. Families may also submit the application online or via email. Overt identification is prevented by accepting meal applications from all families regardless of eligibility status. Overt identification is also prevented by treating all application submissions in a confidential manner.
Our POS system, Titan, changes the eligibility category of students who no longer qualify for free or reduced-price to paid on the 31st operating day of the new school year.

Benefit Issuance

Benefit Issuance rosters are developed and maintained by the Supervisor of Student Nutrition, Gianmario Oddi. Rosters are coded for eligibility using an alphanumeric code. Rosters indicate the effective dates of eligibility.
Benefit rosters are saved for three years plus the current year.
All drops, transfers, and newly enrolled students are reported automatically and updated within the POS by the student information system. These electronic systems are synced daily via an automated system.
All staff responsible for issuing benefits are notified of changes in eligibility automatically through the point of sale system which is automatically updated when eligibility status changes.
All changes due to verification are reported automatically and updated within the POS by the POS system as the benefit issuance and the eligibility determination system are one and the same.

Payment for Meals

Under the California Universal Meals Program, breakfast and lunch are available at no charge to all enrolled students, regardless of eligibility status. Because our SFA is participating in the California Universal Meals program, we no longer collect unpaid meal debts.
Meal charges are allowed for a la carte items and/or second meals. Please see the SFA meal charge policy for more details.
Meal payments are accepted in the meal service line(exact cash only, no change will be given), the Student Nutrition office, and online via the Titan parent payment portal. Prepayment is advertised to parents in the front office, in the cafeteria, and via the website.
Adult meal prices will be set according to the Adult Meal Pricing tool. Payments can be made in the meal service line(exact cash only, no change will be given), or online via the Titan payment portal. Prepayment will be allowed.

Medium of Exchange Used

The medium of exchange is a PIN (student ID # at our secondary sites and self photo selection at the POS at our primary sites.
The PIN cannot be used twice because it is coded within the POS to prevent duplicate meals. If a PIN is entered twice during the meal service, an alert will pop up stating “meal previously served.” The second meal will be deleted or charged as an a la carte transaction. The student's name and photo pop up on the computer screen when the student enters their PIN. This is done to assist the medium of exchange from being utilized by an unauthorized person.
The medium of exchange is distributed to all students by the cafeteria staff. All students are given a meal regardless of eligibility status.
The PIN/photo selection is collected at the Point of Service by the cashier. The student enters the PIN into a keypad which is linked to the POS computer system.
Students use prepaid meal accounts to pay for non reimbursable meals or a la carte menu items.

Accuracy of Counts

The point of service for lunch and breakfast is at the end of the meal service line. Child nutrition staff are responsible for recording meal counts once a reimbursable meal has been selected.
The balance point is the food item count as recorded on the menu production record/transport record. This count is used to compare with the number of meals claimed. This number is just an indicator and is never used as the claim count.
a. Offer versus Serve is in place for breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, at least 4 food items are offered, and students must select a minimum of 3 items, including ½ cup of fruits or vegetables. For lunch, at least 5 components are offered, and students must select a minimum of 3 components, including ½ cup of fruits or vegetables.
The person trained to monitor the point of service is responsible for counting meals served. The point of service for lunch and breakfast is at the end of the meal service line. If any student takes a meal that does not meet reimbursable meal standards under offer versus serve, the cashier is to request that the student obtain the additional missing food items. If the student does not wish to add sufficient food items to comprise a reimbursable meal, the meal is not counted for reimbursement and may be charged as an a la carte item.
The age grade groups are: K-5, K-8, 6-8, & 9-12
Adults may purchase a meal, and a la carte sales are also available to students and adults. These are tracked through the POS and are not claimed for reimbursement.
Dropped and second meals are tracked through the POS and are not claimed for reimbursement.
Earned student meals (if applicable) are tracked through the POS and claimed in the appropriate student eligibility category. Students enter their PIN into the POS.
Field trip meals are claimed in the appropriate student eligibility category. Field trip meals are ordered and prepared prior to students leaving campus. A roster is sent along with meals. Teachers are advised to check off the roster as meals are served to obtain an accurate meal count at the time of service. The roster is returned to the cafeteria after the field trip along with any leftover meals. A balance point reconciliation is completed to ensure the meal count does not exceed the number of meals served. Meals are then recorded into the POS for the service date and claimed in the appropriate student eligibility category.
Visiting students from outside of the SFA or LEA are not offered reimbursable meals. Visiting students may purchase a la carte items or adult meals.
If the electronic system fails, then paper rosters are utilized.
All of the above answers apply to breakfast and lunch.
The CACFP after-school program operates under area eligibility where all suppers are claimed as free. A head count is used and recorded via tally sheets. The daily attendance is also recorded, and an edit check is completed to ensure the meal count does not exceed attendance. The after-school program monitors the meal count and completes the tally sheet. The child nutrition department conducts regular site monitoring of this program.

Reports and Internal Controls

The totals for each meal service are recorded in the POS and automatically consolidated within the software. At the end of each month, a report is generated that compiles the counts for each service day and site. This information is then transferred to prepare the reimbursement claim.
An edit check is completed monthly using the local attendance factor or the state number of 93.8%. This is done to ensure that meal counts do not exceed attendance-adjusted enrollment.
Deposits are prepared as follows: site lead is responsible for counting, preparing, and depositing to the bank. Deposit slips are reviewed by Student Nutrition Accounting Specialists, cross cross-referenced through Titan.
The Director of Student Nutrition (Michael Jochner) and Supervisor of Student Nutrition (Gianmario Oddi) conduct site monitoring regularly.
Other methods to ensure sites comply include training, regular staff meetings, site monitoring reviews, email communications, and collaboration with site administrators to support staff needs.

Non-Discrimination 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%20P-Complaint-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:

mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
email:
program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Triennial Assessment

Non-Discrimination Statement

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%20P-Complaint-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:
program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Declaración de No Discriminación

Declaración de No Discriminación

Para todos los demás programas de asistencia de nutrición del FNS, agencias estatales
o locales y sus subreceptores, deben publicar la siguiente Declaración de No
Discriminación:

De acuerdo con la ley federal de derechos civiles y las normas y políticas de derechos civiles
del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA), esta entidad está prohibida de
discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo (incluyendo identidad de género y
orientación sexual), discapacidad, edad, o represalia o retorsión por actividades previas de
derechos civiles.

La información sobre el programa puede estar disponible en otros idiomas que no sean el
inglés. Las personas con discapacidades que requieren medios alternos de comunicación para
obtener la información del programa (por ejemplo, Braille, letra grande, cinta de audio, lenguaje
de señas americano (ASL), etc.) deben comunicarse con la agencia local o estatal responsable
de administrar el programa o con el Centro TARGET del USDA al (202) 720-2600 (voz y TTY) o
comuníquese con el USDA a través del Servicio Federal de Retransmisión al (800) 877-8339.
Para presentar una queja por discriminación en el programa, el reclamante debe llenar un
formulario AD-3027, formulario de queja por discriminación en el programa del USDA, el cual
puede obtenerse en línea en:

https://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource-files/usdaprogram-discrimination-complaint-
form-spanish.pdf, de cualquier oficina de USDA, llamando al (866) 632-9992, o escribiendo una

carta dirigida a USDA. La carta debe contener el nombre del demandante, la dirección, el
número de teléfono y una descripción escrita de la acción discriminatoria alegada con suficiente
detalle para informar al Subsecretario de Derechos Civiles (ASCR) sobre la naturaleza y fecha
de una presunta violación de derechos civiles. El formulario AD-3027 completado o la carta
debe presentarse a USDA por:

(1) correo:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 202509410 ; or
(2) fax:
(833) 2561665 o (202) 690-7442; o
(3) correo electrónico:
program.intake@usda.gov
Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

Wellness Policy

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Annual Notification

The CDE requires that all SFAs who operate the federal meal program notify households about the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Information Act annually.

Notifications should be sent once a year between the months of January through April.

There are many options for notifying households about the EITC which may include in-person, electronic, mail, flyers, or by phone, although you are only required to notify via one method.

What is the EITC? The EITC is a benefit for working people with low to moderate income. They must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if taxes are not owed or households are not required to file, to qualify. The EITC reduces the amount of tax households owe and may allow for a refund.

Below is the specific language that LEA must include when notifying households about the EITC. This language is in RTC Section 19854:

Based on your annual earnings, you may be eligible to receive the Earned Income Tax Credit from the Federal Government (Federal EITC). The Federal EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. The Federal EITC has no effect on certain welfare benefits. In most cases, Federal EITC payments will not be used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, food stamps, low-income housing, or most Temporary Assistance For Needy Families payments. Even if you do not owe federal taxes, you must file a federal tax return to receive the Federal EITC. Be sure to fill out the Federal EITC form in the Federal Income Tax Return Booklet. For information regarding your eligibility to receive the Federal EITC, including information on how to obtain the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice 797 or any other necessary forms and instructions, contact the IRS by calling 1-800-829-3676 or through its website at www.irs.gov.

You may also be eligible to receive the California Earned Income Tax Credit (California EITC) starting with the calendar year 2015 tax year. The California EITC is a refundable state income tax credit for low-income working individuals and families. The California EITC is treated in the same manner as the Federal EITC and generally will not be used to determine eligibility for welfare benefits under California law. To claim the California EITC, even if you do not owe California taxes, you must file a California income tax return and complete and attach the California EITC Form (FTB 3514). For information on the availability of the credit eligibility requirements and how to obtain the necessary California forms and get help filing, contact the Franchise Tax Board at 1-800-852-5711 or through its website at www.ftb.ca.gov.

Below are some additional resources you can provide in your notification, however they are not required.

Free resources to help you file your tax return:

EITC Brochure in Spanish/English: This printable brochure provides information about the Federal and California Earned Income Tax Credits (EITCs) along with the eligibility requirements.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS): For more information about the Federal EITC, please visit the EITC web site or call 1-800-829-1040.
Franchise Tax Board (FTB): File your state tax return directly to FTB for free with CalFile. For more information, please contact FTB at 1-800-852-5711 or visit the FTBweb site.

CalEITC: California joins 24 other states and the District of Columbia in adopting a state EITC to supplement the federal EITC. For more information visit CalEITC4Me. In addition to the CalEITC Calculator to determine how much money eligible filers can get back, and a Free Tax Prep Finder to help people find convenient free tax preparation sites in their neighborhoods.

Seamless Summer Feeding Option 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 21st, 2026

Morgan Hill Unified School District announces they will be serving free meals to children 18 and under with the Seamless Summer Option(SSO) from June 15 - July 16

Monday-Thursday

8:45-9:15am for Breakfast

11:45-12:30 for Lunch.

We will not be open for any Friday meal services. Location below:

Central High School

85 Tilton Ave.

Morgan Hill, CA 90537

For additional information please contact:

Michael Jochner

Director of Student Nutrition

jochnerm@mhusd.org

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/ad-3027.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

(2) Fax: 202-690-7442

(3) E-mail: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.