Auxiliary Services
700 Series
Policy Title: Meal Charges
Code No. : 704.2
MEAL CHARGES
In accordance with state and federal law, the Carroll 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 pay for school meals, and maintain the financial integrity of the nonprofit school nutrition program.
Payment of Meals (based on eligibility Paid, Reduced, Free):
Students have use of a meal account that is to be prepaid before meal service begins. Families may add to their student accounts through electronic payment on the parent portal of Infinite Campus or by paying at the student’s school office.
Employees may purchase meals, but may not charge meals once there is a $0 balance to this account. When an employee account reaches this limit, an employee shall not be allowed to charge further meals or a la carte items until the negative account balance is paid in full.
Negative Account Balances:
The school district will make reasonable efforts to notify families when meal account balances are low. Additionally, the district will make reasonable efforts to collect unpaid meal charges classified as delinquent debt. The district will coordinate communications with the student’s parent or guardian to resolve the matter of unpaid charges.
Full Paid Meal Accounts – when the balance reaches -$10.00 a student may no longer charge a la carte or extra entrees. If a student presents their tray with an extra entrée or a la carte items on it and their account is at -$10.00 or more they will be allowed to keep that extra entrée one time and the parents will be notified. If no money is deposited into their account and they order an extra entrée again, the second entrée will be removed from their tray. If the student tries to purchase a la carte and their account is -$10.00 or more they will have to return the items back to the a la carte rack. If this happens the parent will receive a phone call that afternoon.
When a full paid meal account reaches -$40.00 a student may no longer eat breakfast, however, 5 additional lunch meals may be charged to this account. When an account reaches -$55.00, your student will not be allowed to eat lunch at school and you will need to send a sack lunch. If you are in a situation where you need financial assistance please contact the food service department.
Reduced Priced Meal Accounts – when the balance reaches -$10.00 this student may no longer charge a la carte or extra entrees. If a student presents their tray with an extra entrée on it and their account is at -$10.00 or more they will be allowed to keep that extra entrée one time and the parents will be notified. If no money is deposited into their account and they order an extra entrée again, the second entrée will be removed from their tray. If the student tries to purchase a la carte and their account is -$10.00 or more they will have to return the items back to the a la carte rack. If this happens the parent will receive a phone call that afternoon.
Students with outstanding meal charge debt shall be allowed to purchase a meal if the student pays for the meal when it is received (cash in hand).
Free Status Meal Accounts – if a student has a ZERO balance in their meal account and qualifies for free breakfast and free lunch they are not allowed to charge a la carte or extra entrees. If a student presents their tray with an extra entrée on it and their account has a ZERO balance they will be allowed to keep that extra entrée one time and the parents will be notified. If no money is deposited into their account and they order an extra entrée again, the second entrée will be removed from their tray. If the student tries to purchase a la carte and their account has a ZERO balance or less they will have to return the items back to the a la carte rack. If this happens the parent will receive a phone call that afternoon.
Students who qualify for free or reduced price meals shall never be denied a reimbursable meal, even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases.
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 was communicated to households and staff will be retained.
The superintendent may develop an administrative process to implement this policy.
Date of Adoption/Review/Revision
July 2017
February 2020
September 2021
October 2021
March 2024
