Code No.  710.1

SCHOOL FOOD PROGRAM

The school district will operate a school nutrition program in each attendance center.  The school nutrition program will include meals through participation in the National School Lunch Program.  Students may bring their lunches from home and purchase milk and other incidental items.

School nutrition program 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 Food Service Director  to employee groups, parent-teacher meetings, civic organizations meeting for the purpose of better understanding the schools, and senior citizens in accordance with law and board policy.

The school nutrition program is operated on a nonprofit basis.  The revenues of the school nutrition program will be used only for the operation or improvement of such programs.  Supplies of the school nutrition program will only be used for the school nutrition program.

The board will set, and annually review, the prices for school nutrition programs.  It is the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation regarding the prices of the school nutrition programs, in accordance with federal and state law.

Employees, except for food service personnel, will be required to purchase adult-price tickets for meals consumed. Food service employees may receive a meal allowance if their negotiated contract with the Board so stipulates.

It is the responsibility of the Food Service Director to administer the program and to cooperate with the superintendent and appropriate personnel for the proper functioning of the school nutrition program.

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:             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:             710.2                                      Free or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility

710.3                              Vending Machines

710.4                              Meal Charge Policy

905                                 Use of School District Facilities and Equipment

Adopted: 3/20/2000

Reviewed: 08/12/2024                           

Revised: 08/12/2024

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 Nutrition Director to determine the eligibility of students for free or reduced price school nutrition programs, in accordance with criteria established by state and federal law.  If school personnel have knowledge of a student who is in need of free or reduced-price meals, school personnel shall contact the Nutrition Director.

Employees will be required to pay 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. §§ 210 et seq..
                                      Iowa Code § 283A.
                                      281 I.A.C. 58.

Cross Reference:  710.1   School Nutrition Program
                                      710.3   Vending Machines
                                      710.4   Meal Charge Policy

Approved: 01/12/1987                         
Reviewed: 03/16/2021                         
Revised: 02/17/2020

In accordance with state and federal law, the Edgewood-Colesburg Community School District adopts the following policy to ensure school district employees, families, and students have a shared understanding of expectations regarding meal charges. The policy seeks to allow students to receive the nutrition they need to stay focused during the school day, prevent the overt identification of students with insufficient funds to pay for school meals, and maintain the financial integrity of the nonprofit school nutrition program.

Payment of Meals

All meal purchases are to be prepaid before meal service begins. Money can be added to the family account by dropping payment off at the elementary, Jr/Sr, or district office. Students who do not have sufficient funds shall not be allowed to charge meals or a la carte items until additional money is deposited in the student account.

Special Note: Families participating in the USDA’s Free/Reduced program are responsible to pay for afternoon milk and ala carte items. These are NOT part of the USDA program and are not allowed to be charged unless there is money available in their account.

Elementary School:

• If a child’s meal account has a negative balance, a letter or email will be sent home.  The child will be allowed to continue to eat school meals. Ala carte items and afternoon milk will not be available to the child unless they have cash in hand to pay.
• If the account reaches a negative balance of $20.00, a phone call with the parent and/or letter will be sent to arrange payment plan.  It will be considered at this time if the child will be allowed to continue to eat a regular meal or if an alternate meal should be given.  Ala carte items and afternoon milk will not be available to the child unless they have cash in hand to pay.
• If the account reaches a negative balance of $30.00, an alternate meal* will be given. Ala carte items and afternoon milk will not be available to the child unless they have cash in hand to pay.

Secondary School:

• If a child’s meal account has a negative balance, a letter or email will be sent home.  The child will be allowed to continue to eat school meals. Ala carte items will not be available to the child unless they have cash in hand to pay.

• If the account reaches a negative balance of $20.00, a phone call with the parent and/or letter will be sent to arrange payment plan.  At this time that an alternate meal* will be given. Ala carte items will not be available to the child unless they have cash in hand to pay.

* Student is not charged for the alternate meal

Employees:

            Employees may establish a meal account. If an employee chooses to charge a meal to their account the account balance should not fall below zero. If the account does go negative, ala carte or extra items will not be available unless they have cash in hand to pay. If balance reaches a negative balance of $10, employees MUST have cash in hand to pay.

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 families to resolve the matter of unpaid charges. Families will be notified of an outstanding negative balance once it goes negative by email or letter sent to the parent. Negative balances may 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.

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.

The superintendent may develop an administrative process to implement 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 Reference:  710.1   School Food Program
                                      710.2   Free or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility
                                       710.3   Vending Machine

Adopted:
Reviewed: 03/16/2021
Revised:             

Conflict of Interest

The following conduct will be expected of all persons who are engaged in the award and administration of contract supported by federal funds through the Child Nutrition Programs of the United States Department of Agriculture.

No employee, officer or agent of the school corporation shall participate in the selection, award or administration of a contract supported by Program funds if a conflict of interest, real or apparent, would be involved.

Conflicts of interest arise when one of the following has a financial or other interest in the entity selected for the award:

1. School corporation employee, officer, or agent;
2. Any member of the employee, officer or agent immediate family;
3. The employee, officer, or agent business partner;
4. An organization that employs or is about to employ one of above.

School corporation employees, officers, or agents shall neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors, potential contractors, or parties to agreements or contracts under the Program. Employees may accept unsolicited items of nominal value such as those that are generally distributed by a company or organization through its public relations program.

The purchase during the school day of any food or service from a contractor for individual use is prohibited.

The removal of any food, supplies, equipment, or school property such as records, recipe books, and the like by school employees is prohibited.

Disciplinary Action

Failure of any employee to abide by the above-stated code may result in disciplinary action, including but not limited to suspension or dismissal

Adoption:
Reviewed: 3/16/2021
Revised: 6/18/18

The donations for student meals will be recorded in the following manner:

The funds should will be applies to students in the following order until amount of the donation is fully used

1. Students on Free lunch with largest negative balance first, then the next highest continuing down to the lowest balance
2. Students on Reduced meals with the largest negative balance first, then the next highest continuing down to the lowest balance
3. Students on full pay meals with the largest negative balance first, then the next highest continuing down to the lowest balance

If the funds received exceed the total negative balance of the district, the carryover balance will be used for future negative balances

Adoption: 01/18/2021
Reviewed: 03/16/2021
Revised:          

SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM

DISTRICT FOOD SERVICE ACCOUNT COLLECTION

Code No. 710.7

LOW BALANCE NOTICE:

The District Office/Food Service Director will review accounts on a daily basis. When the account drops below $0.00 an account statement is sent by handed out notices, mailed notices, or emails.

Elementary: 

If the student has more than a $10.00 balance, the student will receive an alternative meal and a milk for lunch and only milk and toast for breakfast at no charge.  A call or letter to the parent(s)/guardian(s) will be made to inform the parent(s)/guardian(s) that they have five days to develop a payment plan with the district. All past due accounts need to be paid before the last day of school.

JH/HS:

Any student that reaches a negative $10.00 balance will receive an alternative meal and milk at for lunch and only milk for breakfast at no charge. A call or letter to the parent(s)/guardian(s) will be made to inform the parent(s)/guardian(s) that they have five days to develop a payment plan with the district. No ala-cart items are to be sold to anyone with a negative balance unless paid cash. All past due accounts need to be paid before the last day of school.

PAST DUE ACCOUNTS:

The District may file a claim with small claims court or utilize the services of a collection agency and/or legal counsel to secure the collection of unpaid lunch accounts. Any charges associated with the small claims court filing or fees charged by a collection agency shall be added to the unpaid debt due to the District. The District will delay such action when a parent/guardian agrees to make and makes timely payments in accordance with an alternative payment plan to eliminate debt.

Adopted: 03/20/2000

Reviewed: 03/16/2021

Revised: 06/17/2019