710 School Food Services
710.1 School Nutrition Program
NONINSTRUCTIONAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES
710.1 - 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 school nutrition director 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 school nutrition director 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.and prohibitions on purchasing food products misbranded as meat or egg products, or cultivated-protein food products in accordance with applicable laws.
NOTE: This is a mandatory policy.
NOTE: Superintendents will make the annual recommendation to the board after they have completed the Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) tool. For additional information, please visit the “Nutrition Programs” section of the Iowa Department of Education’s website.
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
Approved: 1/20/2000
Reviewed: 1/18/16
Revised: 5/16/22, 10/21/2024
710.01E1 School Nutrition Program Notices of Nondiscrimination
700 NON INSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS SERVICES
710.01E1 - School Nutrition Program Notices of Nondiscrimination
Adopted: 6/16/2025
710.01E2 Child Nutrition Programs civil Rights Complaint Form
NON INSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS SERVICES
710.01E2 - CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT FORM
Adopted: 6/16/2025
710.01R1 School Food Program - School Nutrition Program Civil Rights Complaints
700 NON INSTRUCTIONAL OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS SERVICES
710.01R1 - School Food Program - School Nutrition Civil Rights Complaints
Procedures for Handling a Civil Rights Complaint
- Civil rights complaints related to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Afterschool Care Snack Program, Summer Food Service Program, Seamless Summer Option, or Child and Adult Care Food Program are written or verbal allegations of discrimination based on USDA protected classes of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability.
- Any person claiming discrimination has a right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discrimination. See below for additional Iowa Civil Rights information. A civil rights complaint based on the protected classes listed in #1 above must be forwarded to the address on the nondiscrimination statement.
- All complaints, whether written or verbal, must be accepted by the School Food Authority (SFA)/Sponsor/Organization and forwarded to USDA at the address or link on the nondiscrimination statement within 5 calendar days of receipt. An anonymous complaint should be handled the same way as any other. Complaint forms may be developed, but their use cannot be required. If the complainant makes the allegations verbally or in a telephone conversation and is reluctant or refuses to put them in writing, the person who handles the complaint must document the description of the complaint.
- There must be enough information to identify the agency or individual toward which the complaint is directed and indicate the possibility of a violation. Every effort should be made to obtain at least the following information:
- Name, address and telephone number or other means of contacting the complainant;
- The specific location and name of the organization delivering the program service or benefit;
- The nature of the incident(s) or action(s) that led the complainant to feel there was discrimination;
- The basis on which the complainant feels discrimination occurred (race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability);
- The names, titles, and addresses of people who may have knowledge of the discriminatory action(s); and
- The date(s) when the alleged discriminatory action(s) occurred or, if continuing, the duration of such action(s).
- USDA is the cognizant agency for the Child Nutrition Programs listed and therefore is the first contact for the six protected classes listed in #1 above, for complaints received within 180 days. Civil rights complaints must be submitted to the USDA Office of Civil Rights within five calendar days of receipt and no later than 180 days of the discriminatory act. The link for submission of a complaint is: program.intake@usda.gov
- In Iowa, protected classes also include sexual orientation, religion or creed and complaints can be filed up to 300 days of occurrence. The address for Iowa complaints is: Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 6200 Park Avenue, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50321-1270; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.
Adopted: 6/16/2025
Bureau of Nutrition and Health, IDOE, 12/2021
| I.C. Iowa Code | Description |
|---|---|
| Iowa Code § 283A | School Meal Programs |
| I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 281 I.A.C. 58 | Education - Breakfast and Lunch Program |
| U.S.C. - United States Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 | Public Health - School Lunch Program |
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 710.02 | Free or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility |
| 710.03 | Vending Machines |
| 710.04 | Meal Charges |
710.2 Free or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility
NONINSTRUCTIONAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES
710.2 - FREE OR REDUCED COST 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 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 Nutrition Director.
If a student owes money for five or more meals, the 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.
NOTE: There are three places in the policy where the board must identify the positions that will be responsible for determining free or reduced cost meal eligibility for the school nutrition programs. The board should ensure that the positions identified are authorized by applicable law to process information as designated in the National School Lunch program annual application.
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
Approved: 1/20/2000
Reviewed: 1/18/16
Revised: 5/16/22
710.3 Vending Machines
NONINSTRUCTIONAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES
710.3 - 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
Approved: 1/20/2000
Reviewed: 1/18/16
Revised: 5/16/22
710.4 Meal Charges
NONINSTRUCTIONAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES
710.4 - MEAL CHARGES
In accordance with state and federal law, the WACO 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: Students have use of a meal account. When the balance reaches $0.00 a student may charge no more than five (5) meals or five (5) ala carte items to this account. When an account reaches this limit, a student shall not be allowed to charge further meals or a la carte items until the negative account balance is paid. Money may be added to lunch accounts in the following ways: SchoolPay, which is online via www.wacocsd.org or bring money to school. Elementary students may take money to the office. Junior High and High School students may take money to the lunch attendant.
Students who qualify for free meals shall never be denied a reimbursable meal, even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases. Students with outstanding meal charge debt shall be allowed to purchase a meal if the student pays for the meal when it is received.
Employees may use a charge account for meals, but may charge no more than five (5) meals and ala carte items to this account. When an 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.
Negative Account Balances
The school district will make reasonable efforts to notify families when meal account balances are low. Additionally, the school district will make reasonable efforts to collect unpaid meal charges classified as delinquent debt. The school district will coordinate communications with families to resolve the matter of unpaid charges. Families will be notified by the Nutrition Director of an outstanding negative balance once the negative balance reaches five (5) meals. Families will be notified by preferred method of an email on file with the district, or note sent home with the student. Families can sign up to receive low account balance notifications. Negative balances not paid prior to the last day of the school year 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. Payment plans may be available by contacting Central Office during business hours. 319-256-6201
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.
NOTE: The IASB sample policy is drafted to be consistent for all grade levels. However, local boards may vary the meal charge policy for elementary, middle, and high schools. Districts should update the policy accordingly if they wish to delineate meal charge practices based on the grade level of students.
NOTE: If the district elects to provide alternate meals for students, the alternate meal must contain components available to all students and be provided in the same manner as meals are provided to other students. Additionally, the district is expected to accommodate special dietary needs when a child’s disability restricts their diet.
NOTE: The Iowa Department of Education has tools and resources available to help districts with the school nutrition program and meal charge policy implementation and review. Please visit the “School Meals” section of the Iowa Department of Education’s website.
NOTE: School districts must follow appropriate debt collection practices when trying to recover unpaid meal charges.
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
Approved 6/15/2017
Reviewed
Revised 5/16/22