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

The criteria is determined by household size and income. The larger the household size, the larger the income threshold becomes for free and reduced meals.

In order for school officials to determine eligibility, the household has to provide either a SNAP or TANF case number that signifies the household already receives assistance from one of these programs and an adult member of the household’s signature.

The household member filling out the form would 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 household member and a signature of an adult household member certifying that the information provided is correct, according to the press release.

The district’s eligibility supervisor will review all applications to certify eligibility. Those who are dissatisfied with the ruling can appeal to the school district’s chief financial officer.

If employment status or size of the household changes, then they can file a meal application with the school. These changes may make the household children eligible for free and reduced meals.

Those who are interested in the program can view the entire policy at all school district schools or the district office.

Pelion schools eligible for no-cost meals

All Pelion schools within Lexington County School District One will be eligible for no-cost meals for the 2024-2025 school year.

Forts Pond Elementary, Pelion Elementary, Pelion Middle and Pelion High School are all participating in the Community Eligibility Provision of the 2010 Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act.

The provision affords parents of students within these schools the opportunity for their children to have breakfast and lunch provided to them at no cost without having to fill out meal applications, the press release said.

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

SCDE to have over 1,300 free meal sites for summer

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

Any child that is 18 or under can have free breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks at locations around them.

State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver said that they were thankful for their participating partners.

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

The times and type of meals are flexible to allow for more 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 sites in South Carolina can be found by searching online for the USDA Summer Meal Site Finder.

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.

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

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

New principal of Lakeside Middle School named

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

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

She started her career in the Lexington Two school district in 2003 as a middle school science teacher. She was then promoted to the role of assistant principal at R.H. Fulmer Middle School in 2008 before becoming the principal at Fulmer Middle in 2013 where she has held the position since.

Carrero was the 2022 Middle-Level Principal of the Year for the S.C. Association for School Administrators, a 2022 inductee for 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 instructional 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 families,” Lexington One Superintendent Gerrita Postlewait said in the press release.

Lexington moving to .gov domain

Lexington County Council recently approved the town moving their domain from LexSC.com to LexSC.gov effective immediately.

This measure was done to increase the security of the town’s online presence as well as allow the town to receive additional support measures from the federal government that were not previously available, according to the press release.

As of June 12, all town email addresses have transitioned from @LexSC.com to @LexSC.gov. Users are encouraged to update all website bookmarks and email address contacts.