East Syracuse Minoa Central School District

Receiving free school meals is not dependent upon families returning the Educational Benefits Form. However, the information on this form is used to determine your child(ren)’s eligibility for other state and federal program benefits.

We still ask families to complete the form to help you access this funding. Families can complete a confidential form online at My School Apps or complete the paper form that the district sent families in the Back to School mailer or print and return the Educational Benefits Form (PDF/link) or contact food services for a form to be mailed to you using the contact information below.

Please complete the 2025-26 consent to release form (link) when filling out your Educational Benefits Form. This additional form is used to give permission for community programs such as holiday baskets, summer arts and playground programs, band instruments and school supplies as well as various other federal, state and local health and other programs.

Since breakfast and lunch are free for all students, payment will only be needed to purchase a la carte items such as extra menu items, chips, ice cream, snacks, bottled drinks, etc. Families can pay for these items in advance using cash, checks or debit/credit cards. ESM partners with myschoolbucks.com for debit/credit cards, and they also offer a mobile app. Funds can be added to accounts starting around August 26 or brought in by your child. Please use the printable prepay deposit form and clearly print the child's name and pin number on the envelope for accurate recording. Please make out separate checks for students in different buildings. Meals may also be paid for with a credit/debit card using myschoolbucks.com 

Registering an ESM student at MySchoolBucks is a free service.  Parents can check the account balance, view purchases, set up low balance alerts and automatic recurring payments. You will not be charged a fee for viewing and accessing reports from MySchoolBucks. A credit/debit card transaction fee of $3.50 will be charged for funding a student account. For options on funding multiple students in the same family in different ESM school buildings, please contact the Food Service Department at 315-434-3304. Click here for the myschoolbucks website or for more information.

If your child has a food allergy, especially if they are in kindergarten or first grade or new to ESM, please contact us to ensure the allergy is on record at 315-434-3304 or use the Contact ESM Food Services form

Information on the ESM School Board Policy on Meal Charging and Meal Shaming as well as other Board Policy Information related to Food Services.

For Food Service questions: call 315-434-3304 or Contact ESM Food Services