VINITA SCHOOL DISTRICT POLICY

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MEAL CHARGE POLICY The Vinita Public Schools participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. All meals served must meet patterns established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Students may qualify for free or reduced price meals by completing an application and meeting guidelines set forth by the USDA. An application must be submitted each school year. Applications are available throughout the school year at the school offices, on the vinitahornets.com website, or at the Child Nutrition Office. Questions regarding free and reduced price meals and application to receive free/reduced price meals should be directed to the Child Nutrition Office. Breakfast and lunch money can be prepaid into a student’s meal account. Students may also pay as they move through the line. Pre-paying is the preferred method, it makes it faster and easier for students and staff because they do not have to stop and exchange money during the line. The menu will be published in the local newspaper weekly, and monthly it will be put on the vinitahornets.com website. If it becomes necessary, full priced students, grades 4K-5, charges limits of $9.00 (breakfast and lunch total), and reduced priced students charge limits of $3.50 (breakfast and lunch total) are allowed; and full priced and reduced priced students, grades 6-12, charge limits of 3 meals (breakfast and lunch total) are allowed. Only the Child Nutrition Director or building principal can approve charges made over limits. Weekly, elementary students with an outstanding balance will receive a notice to take home; the balance should be paid the following school day. Secondary students are reminded daily of their balances and may obtain balance notices upon request. Any account that is over the charge limit will result in an alternative breakfast and/or lunch being served to the student. Every effort will be made to communicate with the household to assure meal benefits are accurately determined and whether payment arrangements could be made. As recommended by the State Department of Education, this meal will consist of a peanut butter sandwich, or a cheese sandwich, and a milk. Cash is required for any extra or A La Carte purchases, unless written authorization is given by the parent/guardian and the student has sufficient excess money to pay for the extras or A La Carte items. Money left in a student’s account at the end of the year will be rolled over into the following year for his/her account. A parent/guardian may request in writing that the money be reimbursed to them at the end of the school year, or when the student is withdrawn from the district. If no written request is made, the money will roll over to the student’s account. If a student is withdrawn and a written request is not made within 10 days following the withdrawal, the money remaining in the student’s account will be considered property of the Child Nutrition Program and will not be refunded. This policy will be distributed to all households and will be provided on the vinitahornets.com website. In the event charges are not paid, the district reserves the right to revoke charge privileges. Adoption Date: March 13, 2000 Revision Date(s): August 11, 2003; August 8, 2005; August 14, 2006, June 12, 2017