MONTEVIDEO PUBLIC SCHOOL POLICY

CODE: 750 DATE: 2010 REVISED: 2012

750

LUNCH ACCOUNT POLICY

Montevideo Public Schools do not allow charging meals to family accounts that have a negative balance. The food service program is a PRE-PAID system. All meals will be paid for by depositing money into the family account before meals are served. The district recognizes the responsibility of the parents or guardians to provide breakfast and lunch for their children. Proper nutritional intake is essential for adequate learning. The “Applications for Educational Benefits” forms are available in the District Office and each of the building offices. The forms are mailed to all families before school starts and are available in English and Spanish. Only one application is needed per family. A new application is needed each school year. The district considers a $10.00 balance a “low balance”. When the balance is lower than $10.00, the family will be reminded by the food service staff that the account is low. Notices of low balance will be sent home with elementary and middle school students. Senior High School students will receive verbal notice of a low family balance when going through the lunch line. Low balance reminders will also be sent via e-mail, phone call or letter weekly. The low balance is computed by taking the number of students in the family times $10, so if you have three children in school, you will receive a low balance notice when your lunch balance drops below $30. When money is placed into a family lunch account, negative balances will be paid off first before money is available to purchase meals, unless the family is on an approved payment plan. When a student does not have money in hand for the current meal and has not prepaid for the meal, a meal may be denied because of money owed to the lunch account. This policy pertains to both breakfast and lunch. The school district is under no obligation to continue to serve students who do not pay for their meals. If parents/guardians have further difficulty providing meals for their children at school, the family may be referred to Social Services. Payments to a family lunch account can be made at any school office or online payments can be made anytime at www.montevideoschools.com. (Click on School Store). In order to assist families with outstanding negative balances in their lunch accounts, parents are allowed to establish a payment plan. In order to have a payment plan, there are two stipulations: 1. The monthly payment must exceed the family’s monthly expenditures, and 2. Payments must be made via direct withdrawal from the family’s bank account or the family’s debit/credit card. Forms are available at the District Office. Automatic Withdrawal School Meal Payment Forms are available for any family wishing to have monthly payments directly withdrawn from their bank account. Monthly deduction amounts must be more than the students are charging each month. Forms are available at the District Office. When a family account is at or below $0, the following policy will be enforced: Elementary and Middle School Students: The first day a student wishes to eat a school meal and has no money in their account, an alternative lunch (sandwich and milk) will be given to the student. Parents will be contacted and told that their child has no money in the account and that an alternative lunch was provided to the student that day. The parent will be informed that the student will continue to be offered an alternative lunch until the family account is at a positive balance or on an approved payment plan. Senior High Students: The first day a student wishes to eat a school meal and has no money in their account, an alternative lunch (sandwich and milk) will be given to the student. Parents will be contacted and told that their child has no money in the account and that an alternative lunch was provided to the student that day. The second day the student is without money, the child will be given an alternative lunch. The student will not be offered an alternative lunch on the third day if there is still a negative account balance. The family account must be positive or on an approved payment plan before the student will be allowed to charge a meal. Parents may call the Food Service Office at (320) 269-8833 ext. 2123 on any school day and find out how much money is remaining in their account. Account balances can also be checked through Parent Online at www.montevideoschools.com. Any family having difficulty is strongly encouraged to apply for the benefits offered by the free meal program. The Food Service Office is available for assistance in completing the application.

Adopted by School Board - May 10, 2010 Revised - Adopted by School Board - June 25, 2012