Policy No. 6500 Child Nutrition

The Cache County School District Board of Education recognizes that a poor diet negatively impacts students’ health, and their ability and motivation to learn. To that end, the board will develop and implement an efficient and effective food service program to provide students with healthy and nutritious foods, and promote long-term healthy eating habits. The district’s student nutrition department will work closely with school administrators to provide nutritious meals with variety, appeal, and value for all students in a caring, safe and nurturing environment.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that every school operates a food service program that provides students with access to the varied and nutritious foods they need to stay healthy and learn. There are numerous state and federal regulations under which the district’s child nutrition department must operate. These regulations change frequently, and the district’s compliance helps to ensure quality, cleanliness, fairness, efficiency, and accountability in our child nutrition program.

1. Non-Discrimination
   The child nutrition program will not discriminate against, nor physically segregate, any student because of his or her inability to pay the full price of a meal or milk. Schools must ensure that students eligible to receive free or reduced price meals, or whose meal accounts have a low balance or are delinquent, are not easily identifiable or subject to ridicule or embarrassment.
2. Delinquent Accounts Procedures for Elementary Schools
   1. When a student has five meals left on their account, the lunch secretary/secretary will begin to notify the parent/guardian. Document as needed.
   2. A robo-call goes out to parents who have low or negative balances weekly, or more as needed.
   3. When the lunch secretary/secretary is unable to contact a parent electronically about the child’s account, a mailed letter will be sent to the home. Document.
   4. Parents may view their students’ accounts online if an account has been set up through the district’s payment system located on the district’s website.
   5. The lunch secretary/secretary will not involve students with lunch money issues (stamping hand, sending notes home, etc.).
   6. The lunch secretary/secretary will make every effort to keep charges at a zero balance (contacting parents, mailing letters, etc.).
   7. The lunch secretary/secretary will set a deficit charge limit of 5 meals. At this time, the building principal will become involved. At this point the child will be provided with a complimentary meal as directed by the lunch secretary/secretary.
   8. All student and adult lunch account balances must be reconciled by the end of the fiscal year.
   9. Meals will never be taken from a student. If the lunch secretary/secretary and the building principal are unable to collect on charges by the end of the school year, the building principal will make the decision on how to proceed (send to collection, pay from principal budget, etc.). *Note: If the building principal decides to send to collections, prior notification will be given to the guardian before this takes place. Document.
3. Delinquent Accounts Procedures for Secondary Schools
   1. When a student has five meals left on their account, the lunch secretary/secretary will begin to notify the parent/guardian. Document as needed.
   2. A robo-call goes out to parents who have low or negative balance weekly, or as needed.
   3. When the lunch secretary/secretary is unable to communicate with a parent on the phone about the child’s account, the lunch secretary/secretary will send a letter home. Document.
   4. Parents may view their students’ accounts online.
   5. The lunch secretary/secretary can remind secondary students that their lunch accounts are low or that they owe money.
   6. The lunch secretary/secretary can ask a secondary student to bring lunch money in.
   7. The lunch secretary/secretary will make every effort to keep charges at a zero balance (student or parent contact).
   8. The lunch secretary/secretary will set a deficit charge limit of 5 meals. At this time, the building principal will become involved. At this point the child will be provided with a complimentary meal as directed by the lunch secretary/secretary.
   9. Meals will never be taken from a student.
   10. All student and adult lunch account balances must be reconciled by the end of the fiscal year.
   11. If the lunch secretary/secretary and the building principal are unable to collect on charges by the end of the school year, the building principal will make the decision on how to proceed (send to collection, pay from principal budget, etc.). *Note: If the building principal decides to send to collections, prior notification will be given to the guardian before this takes place. Document.
4. Program Integrity
   The child nutrition program is an essential educational and support program, and budget neutrality or profit generation will not take precedence over the nutritional needs of the district’s students. The district participates in the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Nutrition Education and Training Program, Summer Food Service Program, and other food distribution programs according to its permanent agreement with the Utah State Office of Education.
   When feasible, the district will sponsor additional food service programs, e.g., After School Snack Program, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Community Eligibility Provision, Breakfast in the Classroom, catering, vending, etc., to support student education. The district will set forth its specific processes for implementing this board policy through the accompanying administrative procedures.

Legal References:
National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Approved by the Board of Education: July 20, 2007