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:
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All households at or before the start of each school year;
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Students and families who transfer into the district, at time of transfer; and
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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