School Meals Service through the National Lunch-Breakfast Program

The District will make nutritious foods available on campus during the school day to promote student and staff health. At a minimum, the District Child Nutrition Program will serve reimbursable meals that meet the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) requirements and follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). As required under the National School Lunch Program (7CFR 210.12), the District will promote activities to involve students and parents in the School Lunch Program. In addition, the District will promote healthy food and beverage choices and appropriate portion sizes. All meals will:

• be appealing and attractive to children/young adults/staff of various ages and diverse backgrounds;

• be served in clean, pleasant and supervised settings;

• be accessible to all children and young adults;

• be designed to feature fresh fruits and vegetables from local sources to the greatest extent possible, including the Farm to School Program;

• include the provision of clean, unflavored, cool drinking water available and accessible without restriction and at no charge throughout the school day; and

• include food high in fiber, free of added trans-fat, low in added fats, sugar, and sodium, and served in appropriate portion sizes consistent with the USDA standards.

Cafeteria Use

Except under special circumstances all students will eat in the cafeteria or other designated location.

Guests must follow District procedures for check-in prior to joining a student in the cafeteria.

Meal Costs

The Board of Education will establish the cost for meals prior to the beginning of each school year. Meal costs will be widely publicized and posted on the District website.

Free and Reduced-Price Meals

All families will have the opportunity to submit an application for free and/or reduced-priced meals. This application must be completed each year. The District will utilize federal guidelines in determining eligibility for free and/or reduced-price meals, and those guidelines will be publicized with other notices regarding the District’s child nutrition program. The Director of Child Nutrition Services is responsible for reviewing applications and determining eligibility. He or she is responsible for promptly notifying families whether their application has been approved and following up with families who have submitted incomplete applications. 

Any family who wishes to appeal a decision regarding their eligibility may make an appeal to the Executive Director of Student Services. If an appeal is filed, the individual will be notified of the date and time for an appeal hearing. Individuals may bring a representative with them to any appeal hearing.  

School personnel will use discretion in handling applications, and the names of students eligible for free/reduced-price meals will not be published, posted, announced, or publicized.

Charging Policy

The District must work to ensure that its child nutrition services are run in a fiscally responsible manner. Families will be notified when their child’s account balance is low so that the account can be replenished.

In order to assure all students have access to a hot meal, fees for traditional breakfasts and lunches may be charged to the student’s account when the balance does not cover the cost of the meal. No a la carte items may be charged. Families will be contacted by phone and/or electronic mail when the balance due exceeds $5.00. Questions regarding account balances should be directed to the Cafeteria Manager at the site where the student attends school.

Approved by the Board of Education February 2018

Revised May 2020