Procedures Regarding Insufficient Meal Funds
To ensure students have funds available for school meals, parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to register online at MySchoolBucks. This secure site allows parents/guardians to: create low balance notifications, view student account balances, view student purchases, deposit funds (fee applies) and set up automated payments (fee applies).
When a student comes to school without lunch or money to purchase a meal:
- Student will be given a meal voucher from school administration or designee to obtain lunch from the cafeteria. Vouchers may not be used for à la carte purchases. School administration or designee will then notify the parent/guardian via note, phone call or E-mail to inform them that their student received a meal voucher due to lack of funds and that the parent/guardian is responsible for repaying the amount owed to the school. This amount cannot be repaid via MySchoolBucks.
- After three (3) outstanding occurrences, the student will be provided with a voucher for an alternate meal consisting of white milk, graham crackers, fruit and vegetable for which parents/guardians will be charged one dollar ($1.00). School administration or designee will contact the parent/guardian via telephone regarding the total amount owed to help ensure the student has access to a nutritionally balanced meal each day.
- If occurrences become excessive and the debt remains unpaid, school administration in conjunction with the Student Services Department, will work with the family or local agency regarding follow-up.
- Students may always purchase a meal with "cash in hand" regardless of the amount owed.
- As a courtesy, students will be notified by the cashier when their account balance drops below $5.00.
Insufficient Meal Funds Procedure (excerpt from Administrative Procedure 4305.1 regarding the Child Nutrition Program)