It's been proven that children who
aren't hungry feel better, learn better and behave better. The EVSC's
Office of Food and Nutrition is responsible for providing breakfast and
lunch everyday at the corporation's 39 schools. The Office strives to
serve healthy, nutritious meal options and follows dietary guidelines
set forth by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The EVSC strongly discourages meal
charges but understands there are instances when a student may need
assistance with meal funds; therefore, the following guidelines for meal
charges and collections will apply.
1. Parents have the responsibility
to provide a meal from home, provide money for the student to obtain a
meal or to apply for federal meal assistance through the Free and
Reduced Meal program.
a.
Free and Reduced Meal applications are available in each school office
or by contacting the Food & Nutrition Office at 435-8262.
b.
Students are expected to pay for lunch or bring lunch from home until
the household receives written notification of free or reduced status.
Any negative balance accumulated before a student receives written
approval must be paid in order to bring the negative account to zero.
2. At the high school level, a
student must obtain an IOU slip from the school office if he/she does
not have money in hand or in the meal account. Meals cannot be charged
without this slip, and the student is expected to pay the IOU back the
following day.
3. Elementary and middle school
students will be allowed to charge a meal when the need arises, but
parents are expected to take steps to bring the negative balance to zero
or a positive amount in a timely manner.
4. Students are informed at the cash
register when their meal account is in need of funds. Payment reminders
are sent home on a weekly basis with elementary students who have a
negative balance, bi-weekly Connect Ed courtesy calls are made to all
households with a negative balance of $10.00 or more, and twice a year
notification letters are sent by US mail to households with a balance of
$20.00 or more to inform them of the negative balance and outline
payment options.
5. A la Carte food may not be charged, and students with a negative account balance may not purchase a la carte food.
6. Parents are encouraged to use EZSchoolPay.com
for tracking their student’s balance and to set up automatic low
balance reminders. Payments into student accounts may also be made by
using EZSchoolPay.com.
7. Student accounts with a negative
balance of $50.00 or more are sent letters by US mail advising the
household that if there is no attempt to make a payment (partial
payments are accepted) within a two week period of time, the negative
meal account balance will be turned over to an outside collection agency
which will incur additional court costs.
8. EVSC adult staff will be limited to one meal charge.
Should you have questions, please call the Office of Food and Nutrition at 435-8262 or email
[email protected].