Management of Student School Meal Accounts - Policy 763

 

In accordance with requirements established by federal and state oversight agencies, the School Board will adopt, and approve any proposed revisions to a written rule on the subject of meal charges and the collection of funds within the District’s food service program. The District Administrator and Director of Food Services shall have primary administrative responsibility for overseeing the consistent implementation of the rule that accompanies this policy, including all of the following: 

1. Ensuring that the rule is clearly communicated to school families and to district employees who have responsibility for the application and enforcement of the rule.

2. Monitoring the nutritional, fiscal, and operational impacts of the District’s approach to meal charges and collections, and, at their own initiative or upon the request of the Board, providing the Board with reports and recommendations for changes and improvements. 

3. Coordinating the implementation and enforcement of the rule with the management and staff at any contracted food service company that the District may work with.  

In addition to the rule accompanying this policy addressing student meal charges and account collections, it is the policy of the District that non-student adults who are permitted to purchase meals or other items through the food service program may be authorized to charge items resulting in a negative balance in an amount up to $50.00, with payment due immediately upon notice of the balance.

Reclassification of delinquent debt as bad debt within the Nonprofit School Food Service Account (NSFSA). In consultation with the District’s financial auditors as needed, the District Administrator and/or Director of Business Services shall develop procedures and criteria for the reclassification of long-term delinquent debt within student food service accounts as uncollectible bad debt. Such procedures and criteria shall be consistent with the following general parameters:  

1. Unless an active payment plan is in place or other attempts at collection are actively being pursued, delinquent debt in a student food service account that has not been repaid within 60 days shall normally be reclassified as bad debt for purposes of the District’s NSFSA.  

2. The reclassification of a delinquent debt to a bad debt as an accounting of allowed costs within the District’s NSFSA does not prevent the District from (a) continuing to track the unpaid debt, (b) accepting payment for the debt, (c) refusing to extend further credit or offer other payment plans to the debtor household, or (d) applying other District policies and rules related to unpaid charges and fees. 

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement:

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades. 

 

Please see Policy 760 for the District’s full Non-discrimination statement for food service.

Legal References:

Wisconsin Statutes

Section 115.34 [school lunch program, generally]

Section 115.341 [school breakfast program, generally]

Section 115.343 [Wisconsin school day milk program, generally]

Section 115.347 [direct certification of eligibility for school nutrition programs]

Federal Law

42 U.S.C. §1758(b)(2)(A) [school district duty to publicly announce the income eligibility guidelines for free and reduced price meals]

42 U.S.C. §1758(b)(6) [confidentiality of federal meal program application information and eligibility status; disclosure limitations]

7 C.F.R. §210.12 [district duty to involve families in the school meal programs and to inform families about the availability of federal food programs] 

7 C.F.R. §245.5 [district duty to inform school families and the community about the availability of reimbursable school meals (whether free, reduced-price, or paid), the eligibility criteria for free or reduced-price meals, and the process for applying for free or reduced-price meals] 

7 C.F.R. §245.6 [application, eligibility. and certification of children for free and reduced-price meals and free milk; restrictions on the disclosure and use of information obtained from an application]

2 C.F.R. §200, Subpart E [standards for allowable costs as set forth in federal cost principles] 

2 C.F.R. §200.426 [treatment of bad debt under federal funding requirements]

RULE

Key Responsibilities of Parents and Guardians

Parents and guardians must plan for their child to have sufficient access to food at school on each school day and must actively monitor and manage their child’s school food service account, including making prompt payment of any charges. Parents and guardians should communicate with their child about how meals, snacks, and other food will be provided each day.  

Meal Charges for Elementary and Middle School Students 

When a student wishes to purchase a school meal or any other food service items, but does not have enough money to pay for the items at the time of service, the District’s food service account system normally allows a student to charge up to $50.00 in his/her account as a negative balance before the District will take steps to restrict the student’s food choices.  

Students who are not eligible for free school meals, who do not have money to pay for their food, who are not permitted to charge items, and who do not bring food from home may be offered an alternate meal for lunch.

The alternate meal normally consists of the following: 

1. Lunch: Discretion of Food Service Director

Consequences for Abuse of Privileges

School officials will address any possible abuse of the privilege of charging food service costs and, if applicable, any overuse of the alternate meal option with the student’s parent or guardian. The District may suspend one or both of these privileges if the District determines that there has been an abuse of the privilege.  

Negative Account Balances 

A negative balance in a student food service account is a debt that is owed by the student’s parent or guardian (or, if applicable, by an adult student). Debt that is owed within the food service program does not affect a student’s right to access a regular school meal at the time of meal service if either (1) the student is currently eligible to receive free meals at school, or (2) the student has sufficient funds to pay for the meal at the time the meal is purchased. 

Collection Procedures for Food Service Debts 

Once a student’s account has a negative balance, the District will make an initial and follow-up attempt to collect the debt by providing the student’s parent or guardian with notice (e.g., by mail, email, telephone, or similar methods) of the amount owed. Payment is due immediately upon notice. If these attempts are not successful, a school official will attempt to make a person-to-person telephone contact or schedule an in-person meeting with a parent or guardian. The parties may discuss payment plan options. If a negative balance still has not been paid after the previous steps:  

1. Debt in a student food service account is not automatically discharged, forgiven, or reduced at the end of the school year or due to a change in a student’s enrollment status (e.g., graduates, transfers, drops-out, etc.).  

2. At its discretion, the District may continue to pursue collection efforts. 

3. Debts owed to the District’s food service program may result in the denial of certain school-related privileges in the same manner that applies to other past-due school fees and charges.

Online Account Management

The District offers an online system that a parent or guardian can use to monitor and manage each child’s school food service account, including making payments. Online payments can be made with a credit card thru Skyward Family Access.  A service fee is charged for online payments. Additional information about the online account system can be obtained thru www.mylakecountryschool.org when you log into your Skyward account, or by contacting the staff listed below in this notice. 

Prepayment 

The District strongly encourages school families to establish and regularly fund a prepaid school food service account for each student in the household.  

Making Payments 

In addition to using the online account system to make payments, a person who needs or wishes to make a payment for a student’s meals or food service account may (1) present a payment in person using cash or check during normal school hours to the main office, (2) bring cash to the main office of the student’s school in order to pay for a student’s meal or other food service items on the actual day of service, (3) provide a student with cash to pay for items on the day of service, or (4) request consideration of other methods by contacting the school District Administrator.

The District charges a fee of $30.00 for each check that is returned or denied payment by a financial institution. After a check is returned or denied payment, the District may refuse to accept payment by personal check in the future.

Payment while an Application for Free or Reduced-Price Meals Is Processed

An application for free and reduced-price meals can be submitted at any time during the school year. However, unless a specific exception applies (such as the temporary carryover of prior eligibility), parents and guardians who submit an application remain responsible for payment of all school meals that their child receives until approval is granted. In addition, approval of an application does not eliminate or reduce any charges that were accumulated prior to the date the application was submitted. 

Additional Information and Assistance 

For assistance with all issues and questions related to the District’s food service program, including eligibility and applications for free or reduced-price meals, student food service accounts, the District’s online account management system, as well as the specific issues addressed in these procedures, school families can refer to or contact any of the following: 

Luanne Heil – Food Service Manager  heill@mylakecountryschool.org  262-367-3606, ext. 124

Mark Lichte – District Administrator lichtem@mylakecountryschool.org  262-367-3606, ext. 114

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement:

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.

 

Adopted by the School Board August 14, 2017

Realigned to WASB Policy Manual Coding System in 2019-20

School Wellness Policy - 900.62

 

DISTRICT WELLNESS

The Lake Country School District promotes a healthy school environment for students and staff through education and awareness, and by providing and promoting healthy options and opportunities.

Lake Country School District will provide organized health and physical education curricula and related programs.

The physical education curriculum teaches children the importance of physical exercise and exposes students to a wide range of physical activities so that students develop the knowledge and skills to be physically active for life.  The district has adopted curriculum standards and learner outcomes for physical education that include an emphasis on physical fitness and lifetime activities.  Physical education is taught at all levels by state licensed physical education teachers.

The health curriculum will educate students to develop the knowledge, attitudes, skills and behavior for life long healthy eating habits and physical activity.  The district has adopted curriculum standards and learner outcomes for health education that include an emphasis on good nutrition, disease prevention and healthy lifestyles. 

Elementary students (kindergarten through grade 5) will be provided with an average of at least 30 minutes of physical activity daily.  Students will not lose more than two recess periods in a week due to incomplete class work.

The district provides additional opportunities for physical development and fitness through co-curricular and intramural sports, health and wellness programs, and will work cooperatively with other entities (i.e. the City of Delafield, Village of Hartland and other Arrowhead High School feeder programs) to provide additional programming whenever and wherever possible.

 

DISTRICT NUTRITION

The Lake Country School District will practice and promote good nutrition within the school setting.

Students who practice good nutrition attend school with minds and bodies ready to take advantage of their learning environment.  Eating habits are learned early in life.  Therefore, the

School Board, administrators and staff support a school environment that promotes and encourages lifelong nutritious eating habits.

Provide a positive environment and appropriate knowledge regarding food.The Lake Country School District rule is to:

1. Ensure that all students have access to healthy food choices during school and at school functions.
2. Provide a pleasant, safe and comfortable eating environment for students and staff.
3. Provide adequate time for meals (the American Food Service Association recommends at least 20 minutes for lunch from the time that the children are seated.)
4. Provide recess previous to the lunch hour as it encourages appetites and settles students down before resuming classroom activities.
5. Provide convenient access to hand washing facilities before meals.
6. Enable all students through comprehensive curriculum to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to make healthy food choices for a lifetime.
7. Ensure nutrition practices taught in the classroom and implemented in the school meal program.
8. Ensure school personnel serve as nutrition educators and role models for healthy lifestyles.
9. Ensure that all school activities, including classroom practices and incentives, are consistent with the sound nutrition practices taught in the classroom and implemented in the school meal program.
10. Integrate nutrition education across the curriculum and physical activity will be encouraged daily. Goal: To continue providing health education with one unit related to nutritional standards for grades 6th/7th/8th
11. Educate students about healthy foods. (PE/Health/Recess) Goal: Through PE, teachers will continue to introduce healthy living and nutrition standards.
12. Ensure the integrity of the school lunch program by limiting food and beverages that are in direct conflict with the guidelines of the school lunch program.
13. Encourage the practice of good nutrition by reducing the sale or distribution of foods of minimal nutritional value.
14. Restrict student access to minimal nutritional value foods in vending machines, school stores, concession stands, clubs or fundraisers which students have access to during the school day and other venues that compete with healthy meals in all grades, 4K through grade 8.  Goal: To continue not having vending machines in our school.
15. Prohibit the vending or non-vending sales of soda or artificially sweetened drinks for students on school grounds both prior to the start of the school day and throughout the instructional day, excluding after school activities such as PTO, ACE, Booster, etc. Sale of these items can only occur a minimum of one-half hour before or after school hours.
16. Permit the use and sale of milk and water. We serve only skim or 1% milk products.  Goal:  To continue to encourage the promotion of drinking water.  Students have access to water stations.  Goal: To continue to not allow caffeine products during the school day.

Food Service:

1. Posters or other materials promoting healthy eating habits in cafeteria. 

2. Selective pricing that favors sales of healthy foods.

3. Articles in school newspapers and etc.

4. Students will be given the opportunity to provide input on local, cultural and ethnic favorites of the students through surveys.

5. Post menus.

6. School food service staff members that are properly qualified according to current professional standards and regularly participate in professional development activities will administer the Child Nutrition Program.

7. Food safety will be a key part of school food service operation.

8. Ala Carte items are Smart Snacks compliant.

9. Food/Health service will provide nutritional information to parents on purchased lunch items.  (Available upon request – Food service manager has a binder located in the kitchen.)

The District encourages parents to provide safe and nutritious food in their children’s bag lunches. Parents are encouraged to enjoy lunch with their students at school.

The Child Nutrition Program will provide nutritious meals that reflect current research and comply or exceed federal and state standards.

Fundraising:

1. School administrators will monitor fundraising activities in order to ensure that they are not in conflict with sound nutrition messages.

2. Items being sold must not interfere or compete with the National School Lunch Program.

3. Items must not be sold during school hours in cafeteria.

Classroom Incentives:

1. Teachers are encouraged to consider non-food items as a teacher to student incentive.  Should teachers decide to use a food item, they are encouraged to adhere to the nutritional guidelines.

2. Teachers should encourage healthy snacks in the classroom.

A healthy diet can include all foods, as long as snacks, desserts, side dishes and entrees are appropriately proportioned.  Competitive foods should not take the place of a nutritionally balanced diet.

Lake Country School encourages parents/guardians to support their child’s participation in physical activity, to be physically active role models, and to include physical activity in family events.

Goal: Continue Jump Rope for Heart

Goal: Continue Family Fit Run for School

Goal: Continue 1 recess plus lunch recess for grades K-6.

Goal: Continue to promote the use of our fitness track, disc golf course, hiking trails, and other facilities for exercise - both during and after school.

Goal: Continue to offer a variety of extra-curricular sport activities at Lake Country such as basketball, volleyball, dance, and track and field.

Whenever possible, the school will:

• Offer low-fat salad dressings

• Offer a minimum of choices of fruits/vegetables at all grade levels 

• Offer whole grain foods to help meet bread requirements

The school will provide healthy food choices wherever possible when foods are sold at school sporting events or other special school activities.  Frozen yogurt, fruit smoothies, popcorn, milk, cheese/crackers). Offering healthy options will support students and adults in making healthful eating decisions.

The menus will meet the nutrition standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and WI Department of Agriculture, conforming to good menu planning principles and featuring a variety of healthy choices consisting of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and dairy foods that are low in fat, sugars and sodium, that are tasty, attractive, of excellent quality and are served at the proper temperature.

We will include on the menu the following statement, “This institution is an equal opportunity provider”. For all other information related to the website, we will use the following statement, “In accordance with Federal Law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.  To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call toll free (866) 632-9992 (Voice).  Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339; or (800) 845-6136 (Spanish).  USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”

Adopted by School Board – May 23, 2006

Adopted by School Board    June 20, 2012

Updates Approved by School Board – December 20, 2016