EFD
SHUTESBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE
MEAL CHARGE POLICY
The School Committee is committed to
providing students with healthy, nutritious meals each day so they can focus on
school work, while also maintaining the financial integrity of meal programs
and minimizing any impact on students with meal charges. However, unpaid meal
charges place a large financial burden on the school district, as food services
is a self-supporting entity within the district. The purpose of this policy is
to ensure compliance with federal reporting requirements of the USDA Child
Nutrition Program, as well as provide oversight and accountability for the
collection of outstanding student meal balances.
The provisions of this policy pertain
to regular priced school meals only. The School Committee will provide a
regular meal to students who forget or lose their lunch money.
Meal Charges and
Balances
Students will pay for meals at the
regular rate approved by the School Committee and for their meal status
(regular, reduced-price, or free) each day. Payment options will be delineated
in student handbooks and provided to parents of incoming students. The student
will still be allowed to take a meal, and that meal will continue to be charged
to the account at the standard lunch rate based on their meal status. The
parent/guardian is responsible for any meal charges incurred. If there is a
financial hardship, a parent/guardian should contact food services directly to
discuss payment options such as an individualized repayment plan.
Payments
Parents/Guardians are responsible for
all meal payments to the food service program. Notices of low or deficit
balances will be sent directly to parent/guardians via email or regular postal
mail at regular intervals during the school year. At no time shall any
staff member give payment notices to students. If parent/guardians have issues
with student purchases they should contact food services for assistance.
Parents/Guardians may pay for meals in
advance. Further details are available on the school district webpage and in
student handbooks. Funds should be maintained in accounts to minimize the
possibility that a child may be without meal money on any given day. Any
remaining funds for a particular student, whether positive or negative, will be
carried over to the next school year.
Funds
Any concerns with balances may be directed
first to the Food Service and then to administration.
Delinquent
Accounts/Collections
The Superintendent shall ensure that
there are appropriate and effective collection procedures and internal controls
within the school district's business office that meet the requirements of law.
Policy Communications
This policy shall be communicated to
all staff and families at the beginning of each school year and to families
transferring to the district during the year.
LEGAL
REFS: MGL 71:72; USDA
School Meal Program Guidelines May 2017
CROSS REFS: JQ, Student Fees, Fines
& Charges
SOURCE:
MASC February 2018
Reviewed and edited by Shutesbury Policy Committee: 04/26/18
Reviewed and edited by Shutesbury Policy Committee: 05/17/18
First Reading by Shutesbury School Committee: 06/20/18
Second Reading by Shutesbury School Committee: 09/20/18
Final Vote by Shutesbury School Committee: 11/15/18