Food Service PolicyFood Service Policy #8500

Negative Account Balance Policy

Students will be permitted to purchase from the District's food service using either cash on hand or a food service account.

Students purchasing food who do not have a sufficient account balance or cash on hand to purchase food will be given verbal notice respectfully.  If funds are not received by the second notice, the student will be provided a low-cost alternative meal that meets the USDA guidelines applicable to alternative meal options. The cost of the alternative meal will be added to the delinquent account.

The District will provide meals to students with unpaid meal balances without stigmatizing them, will provide parents of students who charge meals with notification when a student charges a meal, and will make efforts to collect the charges incurred by the students so that the unpaid charges are not classified as bad debt at the end of the school year.

This policy and any implementing guidelines shall be provided in writing to all households at the start of each school year and to households transferring to the school or School District during the school year. The policy and implementing guidelines will also be provided to all District staff with responsibility for enforcing the policies. The policy and guidelines will be posted on the District website.

The food-service program may participate in the Farm to School Program using locally grown food in school meals and snacks.