710.4: Meal Charges

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