SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM

The school district will operate a school nutrition program in each attendance center.  The school nutrition program will include meals through participation in the National School Lunch Program.  Students may bring their lunches from home and purchase milk and other incidental items.

School nutrition program facilities are provided to serve students and employees when school is in session and during school-related activities.  They may also be used under the supervision of the Director of Wellness, Food and Nutrition Services for food service to employee groups, parent-teacher meetings, civic organizations meeting for the purpose of better understanding the schools, and senior citizens in accordance with law and board policy.

The school nutrition program is operated on a nonprofit basis.  The revenues of the school nutrition program will be used only for the operation or improvement of such programs.  Supplies of the school nutrition program will only be used for the school nutrition program.

The board will set, and annually review, the prices for school nutrition programs.  It is the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation regarding the prices of the school nutrition programs, in accordance with federal and state law.

It is the responsibility of the Director of Wellness, Food and Nutrition Services to administer the program and to cooperate with the superintendent and appropriate personnel for the proper functioning of the school nutrition program.

The district shall comply with all federal and state laws and regulations required for procurement, including the selection and evaluation of contractors.  The superintendent or designee is responsible for developing an administrative process to implement this policy, including, but not limited to, procedures related to suspension and debarment for transactions subject to those requirements. 

Legal Reference:          
42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq.
7 C.F.R. Pt. 210 et seq.
Iowa Code ch. 283A.
281 I.A.C. 58.

Cross Reference:          
710.2   Free or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility
710.3   Vending Machines
710.4   Meal Charge Policy
905      Use of School District Facilities and Equipment

Adopted: Unknown
Revised/Reviewed: 9.14.2020

Reviewed:  12.13.2021

Revised: 08.15.2022

Reviewed:  08.21.2023

FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS ELIGIBILITY 

Students enrolled and attending school in the school district who meet USDA eligibility guidelines will be provided the school nutrition program services at no cost or at a reduced price.  The school district shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the overt identification of students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals. 

The district shall at least twice annually notify all families of the availability, eligibility criteria, and application procedures for free or reduced price meals in accordance with state and federal law.  

It is the responsibility of the Wellness and Nutrition Director to determine the eligibility of students for free or reduced price school nutrition programs, in accordance with criteria established by state and federal law.  If school personnel have knowledge of a student who is in need of free or reduced-price meals, school personnel shall contact the Wellness and Nutrition Director.  

If a student owes money for five or more meals, the Wellness, Food and Nutrition Director  may contact the student’s parent or guardian to provide information regarding the application for free or reduced price meals.  The school is encouraged to provide reimbursable meals to students who request reimbursable meals unless the students’ parent or guardian has specifically provided written direction to the school to withhold a meal from the student.  

Employees will be required to pay for meals consumed. 

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for implementing this policy.

Legal Reference:      
42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq..
7 C.F.R. §§ 210 et seq..
Iowa Code § 283A.
281 I.A.C. 58. 

Cross Reference:      
710.1   School Nutrition Program
710.3   Vending Machines
710.4   Meal Charge Policy

Adopted: 9.28.2020

Reviewed: 08.15.2022

Reviewed:  08.21.2023

VENDING MACHINES 

Food served or purchased by students during the school day and food served or purchased for other than special circumstances is approved by the superintendent.  Vending machines in the school building are the responsibility of the building principal.  Purchases from the vending machines, will reflect the guidelines in the Wellness policy 507.9. 

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for the use of vending machines and other sales of food to students.

Legal Reference:      
42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq.
7 C.F.R. Pt. 210 et seq.
Iowa Code ch. 283A
281 I.A.C. 58. 

Cross Reference:      
504.5   Student Fund Raising
710      School Food Services

Adopted: 9.28.2020

MEAL CHARGES

In accordance with state and federal law, the Harlan 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

Household units have the use of a meal account.  When the household unit balance reaches $0.00 a household unit may charge no more than $15.00 to their household unit account.  When a household unit account reaches this limit, students within the household unit will only be allowed to charge ala carte items until the negative balance is paid.  Once a payment is made that brings the account out of arrears the student will again receive the regular reimbursable meal. Payments may be done at any of the building offices or by going on the school website.  You may also send money in with your children.

Students who qualify for free meals shall never be denied a regular reimbursable meal, even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases.  

Negative Account Balances

It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to monitor their student’s lunch account balances to insure adequate funds are available to purchase meals.  Household units will be notified of a low balance once the account reaches a predetermined amount as set by the district.  Additionally, the school district will make reasonable efforts to collect unpaid meal charges classified as delinquent debt. The school district will coordinate communications with household units to resolve the matter of unpaid charges.  When the account reaches -$0.01, families will be notified by telephone, email, or mail.  Negative balances of more than $100.00 will be turned over to the superintendent or superintendent’s designee for collection. Options may include:  collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method permitted by law.

Unpaid Student Meals Account

The district will establish an unpaid student meals account in a school nutrition fund.  Funds from private sources and funds from the district flexibility account may be deposited into the unpaid school meals account in accordance with law.  Funds deposited into this account shall be used only to pay individual student meal debt.

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 household units 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.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for implementing this policy.

Legal Reference:       
42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq.
7 C.F.R. §§ 210 et seq.
U.S. Dep’t of Agric., SP 46-2016, Unpaid Meal Charges: Local Meal Charge Policies (2016).
U.S. Dep’t of Agric., SP 47-2016, Unpaid Meal Charges: Clarification on Collection of Delinquent Meal Payments (2016).
U.S. Dep’t of Agric., SP 57-2016, Unpaid Meal Charges: Guidance and Q&A (2016).
Iowa Code 283A.
281 I.A.C. 58.

Cross Reference:      
710.1   School Food Program
710.2   Free or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility
710.3   Vending Machine

Adopted: 8.17.2017
Revised/Reviewed: 9.14.2020