Policy 710.01: School Food Program	Status: APPROVED
Original Adopted Date: 10/9/1989 | Last Revised Date: 08/12/2024 | Last Reviewed Date: 08/12/2024

 

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 for food service 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 meals consumed.

It is the responsibility of 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.
 

NOTE:  This is a mandatory policy. 

 

NOTE: Superintendents will make the annual recommendation to the board after they have completed the Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) tool. For additional information, please visit the “Nutrition Programs” section of the Iowa Department of Education’s website.  

 

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.

 

 

I.C. Iowa Code	Description
Iowa Code  § 283A	School Meal Programs
I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code	Description
281 I.A.C. 58	Education - Breakfast and Lunch Program
U.S.C. - United States Code	Description
42 U.S.C. §§ 1751	Public Health - School Lunch Program

Cross References

Code	Description
710.02	Free or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility
710.03	Vending Machines
710.04	Meal Charges

Students enrolled and attending school in the school district, who meet the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) eligibility guidelines, will be provided the school nutrition program services at no cost or at a reduced price.  The school district will make every effort to eliminate social stigma attached to, and prevent the overt identification of, students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals.

The district shall 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 Central Administration Staff or designee 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 Central Administration Staff or designee.

Employees, students not qualified for free meals and others 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. Pt. 210 et seq.
Iowa Code ch. 283A
281 I.A.C. 58.

Approved:                                                                  
August 11, 1975

Reviewed:

June 12, 2023
March 13, 2023

Revised:
May 11, 1981
October 9, 1989
September 19, 1994
October 13, 1997
July 10, 2000
November 14, 2016
June 11, 2017

 

In accordance with state and federal law, the Algona 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
Students have use of a meal account. When the balance reaches $0.00 a student shall not be allowed to charge further meals or a la carte items until the negative account balance is paid. Families can add money to the account by paying at the school office or logging onto the school website and depositing money electronically.

Students who qualify for free meals shall never be denied a reimbursable meal, even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases. Students with outstanding meal charge debt shall be allowed to purchase a meal if the student pays for the meal when it is received. The school district may provide an alternate meal that meets federal and state requirements to students who have charged the maximum allowance to the student account and cannot pay out of pocket for a meal.

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. When a lunch account reaches negative status, those responsible for that account will receive notice via email. Paper copies and phone calls may also be used to communicate negative balances. Notifications of the account status will continue until the balance is positive. Negative balances will be turned over to the superintendent or superintendent’s designee for collection. Options for collection may include:  collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method permitted by law.  Exceptions may be made, at the discretion of the Superintendent, in an effort to correct negative accounts.

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 were 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.

Adopted: June 12, 2017

Reviewed: 9/9/2024

Revised: 9/9/24

 

In accordance with state and federal law, the Algona 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 pya for school meals, and maintain the financial integrity of the nonprofit school nutrition program.

Payment of Meals

Students have use of a meal account.  When the balance reaches $0.00 a student may charge no more than $100 to this account.  When an account reaches this limit, a student shall not be allowed to charge further meals or ala carte items until the negative account balance is paid.  Families may add money to student account by electronic payment options or pay at any of the school offices.

Students who qualify for free meals shall never be denied a reimbursable meal, even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases.  Students with outstanding meal charge debt shall be allowed to purchase a meal if the student pays for the meal when it is received.

Employees may use a charge account for meals, but may charge no more than $100 to this account.  When an account reaches this limit, an employee shall not be allowed to charge further meals or ala carte items until the negative account balance is paid.  Employees may also opt to deduct a specified amount from their pay by directing the Business Office in writing.

Negative Account Balance

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 a low, under $10, balance weekly.  Families will be notified by automated email or notices sent home with student.  Negative balances of more than $100 not paid prior to the end of the fiscal year (June 30) will be turned over to the superintendent or superintendent's designee for collection.  Options for collection may include:  collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method permitted by law.

Unpaid student Meal Account

The district will establish an unpaid student meals account in a school nutrition fund.  Funds from private sources and funds from the district flexibility account may be deposited into the unpaid school meals account in accordance with law.  Funds deposited into this account shall be used only to pay individual student meal debt.

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 were communicated to households and staff will be retained.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop an administrative regulation for implementing 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.

Adopted: August 8, 2022

Reviewed: June 12, 2023