The school district will operate a school lunch and breakfast program in each attendance center. The school food program services will include hot lunches through participation in the National School Lunch Program and supplementary foods for students during the school day. Students may bring their lunches from home and purchase milk or juice and other incidental items.
School food service facilities are provided to serve students and employees when school is in session and during school-related activities. They may also be used under the supervision of the administration for food service to employee groups, parent-teacher meetings, civic organizations meeting for the purpose of better understanding the schools, and senior citizens in accordance with board policy.
The school food program is operated on a nonprofit basis. The revenues of the school food program will be used only for paying the regular operating costs of the school food program. Supplies of the school food program will only be used for the school food program.
The board will set, and periodically review, the prices for school lunches, breakfast and special milk programs. It is the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation regarding the prices of school nutrition programs, in accordance with federal and state law.
It is the responsibility of the nutrition director to administer the program and to cooperate with the superintendent and corresponding head cook for the proper functioning of the school food program.
Family nutrition accounts will be allowed to reach a negative balance of $5.00 per individual account member before eating privileges will be taken away. An alternate meal at lunchtime will be provided for those over this threshold. When an account reaches the threshold, a la carte items will not be allowed. This shall apply to students and adults. The superintendent shall have the right to make exceptions for extenuating circumstances.
Negative balances in the family nutrition accounts shall be carried over to the following school year. Negative balances must be paid as part of the school registration process. An alternate meal at lunchtime will be provided for those having negative balances at the beginning of the school year. Graduating seniors shall not take part in graduation ceremonies if they have a negative balance in the nutrition account. The superintendent shall have the right to make exceptions for extenuating circumstances.
The district shall comply with all federal and state laws and regulations required for procurement, including the selection and evaluation of contractors. The superintendent or designee is responsible for developing an administrative process to implement this policy, including, but not limited to, procedures related to suspension and debarment for transactions subject to those requirements and prohibitions on purchasing food products misbranded as meat or egg products, or cultivated-protein food products in accordance with applicable laws.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 20.9; 85.2; 279.12, .28; 285.5(6), .10(6); 296.7; 298A; 517A.1; 670.7
1974 Op. Att'y Gen. 171.
1972 Op. Att'y Gen. 676.
Cross Reference: 205 Board Member Liability
804 Safety Program
Original Adopted Date: 4-1-83 Last Revised Date: 8-12-24 Last Reviewed Date: 8-12-24
Students enrolled and attending school in the school district who meet USDA eligibility guidelines will be provided the school nutrition program services at no cost or at a reduced price. The school district shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the overt identification of students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals.
The district shall at least twice annually notify all families of the availability, eligibility criteria, and application procedures for free or reduced price meals in accordance with state and federal law.
It is the responsibility of the building principal to determine if a student qualifies for free or reduced cost school food services. Students, whom the principal believes are improperly nourished, shall not be denied the school food program services simply because the paperwork has not been completed.
If a student owes money for five or more meals, the Building Secretary, Building Principal, or Central Office Staff may contact the student’s parent or guardian to provide information regarding the application for free or reduced price meals. The school is encouraged to provide reimbursable meals to students who request reimbursable meals unless the students’ parent or guardian has specifically provided written direction to the school to withhold a meal from the student.
Employees, students and others shall be required to purchase tickets for meals consumed.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for implementing this policy.
Legal Reference: 42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq.
7 C.F.R. Pt. 210 et seq.
Iowa Code ch. 283A
281 I.A.C. 58.
Cross Reference: 710 School Food Services
Original Adopted Date: 1-26-98 Last Revised Date: Last Reviewed Date: 8-12-24
Food served or purchased by students during the school day and food served or purchased for other than special circumstances is approved by the superintendent. Vending machines in the school building are the responsibility of the building principal. Purchases from the vending machines will reflect the guidelines in the Wellness policy 507.9.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for the use of vending machines and other sales of food to students.
Legal Reference: 42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq.
7 C.F.R. Pt. 210 et seq.
Iowa Code ch. 283A
281 I.A.C. 58.
Cross Reference: 504.5 Student Fund Raising
710 School Food Services
Payment of Meals:
Students have use of a meal account. Students are able to pay electronically through RevTrack or provide payment at each school's office.
Students who qualify for free meals shall never be denied a reimbursable meal, even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases. Schools are encouraged to provide a reimbursable meal to students with outstanding meal charge debt. If an alternate meal is provided, the meal must be the same meal presented in the same manner to any student requesting an alternate meal.
Employees may use a charge account for meals. An employee shall not be allowed to charge further meals or a la carte items once the account balance is zero.
Negative Account Balances
The school district will make reasonable efforts to notify families when meal account balances are low. Additionally, the school district will make reasonable efforts to collect unpaid meal charges classified as delinquent debt. The school district will coordinate communications with the student’s parent or guardian to resolve the matter of unpaid charges. Parents or guardians will be notified of an outstanding negative balance once the student owes five meals or more. Parents or guardians will be notified by automated email from the current lunch account system. Negative balances at the end of the school year will be turned over to the superintendent or superintendent’s designee for collection. Options may include: collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method permitted by law.
Unpaid Student Meals Account
The district will establish an unpaid student meals account in a school nutrition fund. Funds from private sources and funds from the district flexibility account may be deposited into the unpaid school meals account in accordance with law. Funds deposited into this account shall be used only to pay individual student meal debt.
Communication of the Policy
The policy and supporting information regarding meal charges shall be provided in writing to:
All households at or before the start of each school year;
Students and families who transfer into the district, at time of transfer; and
All staff responsible for enforcing any aspect of the policy.
Records of how and when the policy and supporting information was communicated to households and staff will be retained.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop an administrative regulation for implementing this policy.
Legal Reference: 42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq.
7 C.F.R. §§ 210 et seq.
U.S. DEP’T OF AGRIC., SP 46-2016, UNPAID MEAL CHARGES: LOCAL MEAL CHARGE POLICIES (2016).
U.S. DEP’T OF AGRIC., SP 47-2016, UNPAID MEAL CHARGES: CLARIFICATION ON COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT MEAL PAYMENTS (2016).
U.S. DEP’T OF AGRIC., SP 57-2016, UNPAID MEAL CHARGES: GUIDANCE AND Q&A (2016).
Iowa Code 283A.
281 I.A.C. 58.
Cross References
Code Description
710.01 School Food Program
710.01-R(1) School Food Program - School Nutrition Program Civil Rights Complaints Procedure
710.01-E(1) School Food Program - School Nutrition Program Notices of Nondiscrimination
710.01-E(2) School Food Program - Child Nutrition Programs Civil Rights Complaint Form
710.02 Free or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility
710.03 Vending Machines