FOOD SERVICE PREPAYMENT (4.51WF)

The School Board shall provide nutritious, adequate meals to all school children at a minimum cost. The District’s Child Nutrition Program will at all times be operated in compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations as well as policies of the Board.

Meal Charges

The district does not provide credit for students to charge for meals, a la carte, or other food and beverage items available for purchase in the school food service areas. Meals, a la carte, or other food and beverage items may be purchased by either providing payment for the items at the time of receipt or by having a prepaid account with the District that may be charged for the items. Parents, or students choosing to do so, may pay in advance for meals, a la carte, or other food and beverage items through any of the following methods:

• Submitting cash or check payment at the:
• High School – secure drop boxes are located by the principal’s office and in the lunchroom.
• Middle School – secure drop boxes by the cafeteria and by the principal’s office.
• Elementary School - teachers take up the children’s money each morning.
• Creating an account and depositing funds through the District’s online service at EZSchoolPay.com for a convenience fee of $3.00.
• Parents with an account are able to go to this website and check the status of their child’s account for no charge. Additionally, parents can set up an email reminder when their child’s balance is low.

When a student’s account balance goes below $4.00 for full-pay students or $2.00 for reduced-pay students or reaches a negative balance, the parents will either be sent an automated email notifying them of their child’s balance, or the parents will be called by phone.

Unpaid Meal Access

In accordance with Arkansas law, the District allows students whose accounts do not have enough funds to purchase a meal to receive an unpaid reimbursable meal at no charge. The District will notify a student’s parents

• After the student has received one (1) unpaid meal to.
• Attempt collection of the owed money; and
• Request that the parent or guardian apply for meal benefits in a federal or state child nutrition program.

Students who have submitted proper documentation to receive a meal modification in accordance with Policy 4.50—SCHOOL MEAL MODIFICATIONS shall receive the same type of modification for an unpaid meal.