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Lunch Policy

Approved and Revised for 2018-2019

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WELLNESS POLICY

Putnam County R-I Schools are committed to creating a healthy school environment that supports the development of lifelong wellness practices and promotes healthy eating and physical activities to enhance student achievement.

SPECIAL DIETS/ALLERGIES

Regulations permit substitutions for children with special needs.  A statement from a physician supporting a student’s condition and prescribed substitution must be submitted to the school nurse as soon as diagnosed.  A medical statement for milk allergies is required for each school year.  A medical statement must include:

1. Identification of the medical or other dietary need which restricts the child’s diet.

2. The food or foods to be omitted from the child’s diet, and the food or choice of foods to be substituted.

3. Signature of a licensed medical authority.

For students requiring special dietary needs, a menu will be provided to the parent/guardian each month.  The parent/guardian is required to highlight the menu items that the student should receive each day and return the menu to the kitchen manager by the first day of each month.

PARENTS URGED TO APPLY FOR FREE/REDUCED MEALS

The School District receives additional federal funds based on the numbers of students who qualify for free/reduced meals.   Applications are distributed on the first day of school and are also available at each school office.   Children from households with an income of less than or equal to the income criteria may be eligible for either free or reduced-price meals.  Through direct certification, children from families approved to receive Food Stamps or Temporary Assistance may be automatically approved to receive free meals, without having to complete an application.  Completed applications should be turned into the student’s school office.

IMPORTANT:  A new application must be filled out at the beginning of each school year in order for meal benefits to continue.  Meal benefits begin on the day the application is approved and continue throughout the school year in which the application is approved, and approximately two weeks of the next school year.  Any student that does not have a current application on file with our school district will be unable to receive meal benefits after the first of September of each academic year.

2022-2023 MEAL PRICES

Breakfast is $2.00.

Daily Lunch Prices:  Full paid/$2.75, Reduced/$.40, Adult/$3.25

Milk:  $.45

Middle and high school students are allowed to have seconds and their lunch accounts will be charged accordingly.  An extra entrée is $1.25, an extra side dish is $.75, extra dessert or hot roll is $.35, and extra milk is $.45.  Lunch accounts will also be charged $3.25 for traveling athletes who order sack lunches for away competitions.

LUNCH PROGRAM PAYMENTS

The purchase of school meals is set up on a prepaid basis.  Parents/guardians must maintain a positive balance in their child’s lunch account.  Payment may be made to a student’s lunch account by sending cash or check in a sealed envelope that has been appropriately marked with the student’s name, class, and dollar amount enclosed.  Online payments, credit cards, or direct withdrawal payments are also accepted.

At the beginning of the school year, families are asked to send money to the child’s lunch account.  A minimum of $12.00 per student is recommended.  Larger payments (i.e. one month’s payment) are encouraged.  Families with children attending more than one school may send a single check to be distributed to the children’s accounts.

Regardless of the account status, parents are responsible for all charges applied to the student’s lunch account. (For example, if an account is of free status and a student takes an extra entrée, that account will be charged $1.25.)  

IMPORTANT:  You can view your child’s lunch account online by utilizing the Parent Portal on the school website.

LOW AND DELINQUENT BALANCES

Parents will automatically be notified on Monday evenings through school messenger when the child’s lunch account has a negative balance.  Lunch accounts of ALL statuses will be considered delinquent if the balance drops below a negative $20.00, and parents will again be notified by school messenger on Friday evenings.

All delinquent accounts, regardless of status, will be required to make an immediate deposit to the lunch account, as well as refrain from taking seconds.  If the parent/guardian thereafter fails to deposit funds to the lunch account, the District will provide an alternate lunch for the student.  An alternate lunch will consist of a peanut butter sandwich, raisins, fresh carrots and milk.  Charges will coincide with the status of the account.   The only exception to the alternate lunch will be a signed payment plan that is kept current.

UNCOLLECTED BALANCES

Administrators are expected to protect taxpayers of the District by making a reasonable effort to collect all delinquent food service charges.  The school board authorizes administrators to collect food service charges that are 60 days delinquent through legal means including but not limited to small claims court or use of a collection agency.  Costs for collection services will be added to the student’s account.

REFUNDS

At the end of the school year, if a family no longer has children attending school, moves out of the District, or becomes eligible for free meals, the family may request reimbursement of any balance in the student’s account.  Funds for families with students continuing the following school year will remain in the account for the next school year.

Policy Revision Approved:  2018