Policies and Requirements

Child Nutrition Services/Polices (retrieved from Student Handbook)

The district participates in the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program and offers students nutritionally balanced meals daily in accordance with standards set forth in state and federal law.

Free and reduced-price meals are available based on financial need or household situation.  Information about a student’s participation is confidential; however, disclosure of a student’s eligibility may be made without prior notice or consent to programs, activities, and individuals that are specifically authorized access under the National School Lunch Act (NSLA), which is the law that sets forth the disclosure limits for the district’s child nutrition programs.  A student’s name, eligibility status, and other information may be disclosed to certain agencies as authorized under the NSLA to facilitate the enrollment of eligible children in Medicaid or the state children’s health insurance program (CHIP) unless the student’s parent notifies the district that a student’s information should not be disclosed.  A parent’s decision will not affect the child’s eligibility for free and reduced price meals or free milk.  To apply, view the link on the left sidebar "Free and Reduced-Price Meals" or see the following cafeteria staff members: Marcie Duncan.

Charge Policy

Parents are strongly encouraged to continually monitor their child’s meal account balance.  When a student’s meal account is depleted, the district will notify the parent.  The student will be allowed to continue purchasing meals for up to 3 days or up to $10.00, whichever occurs first, and the district will present the parent with a schedule of repayment for any outstanding account balance.  If the district is unable to work out an agreement with the student’s parent on replenishment of the student’s meal account and payment of any outstanding balance, the student will receive an alternate meal. Alternate meal price will be the same as your student meal cost and will be manually added to your childs account.

Charging will not be allowed in May. All balances owed are due by the first Friday in May.

Texas Department of Agriculture School Nutrition Policy

State and federal laws, as well as board-adopted policies, define when, where, and by whom competitive foods, which are foods not sold as part of the regular meal program, can be served or sold on school premises during the school day.  [For more information, see policies CO(LEGAL) and FFA(LOCAL).]

For information regarding district and campus policies during lunch and breakfast periods, see Closed Campus on page 94 and Visitors to School on page 104 [in the Student Handbook]. 

The Texas Department of Agriculture School Nutrition Policy (TDA) prohibits parents from bringing outside lunch meals for students other than their own child.  It also prohibits competition of any food product or sale during the school day.  Each campus is allowed 6 exemption days for this rule.  These days are selected by the campus administrator of that particular campus.  For more information, visit www.squaremeals.org or contact the school.

What Is a Student Lunch?

To ensure that students select healthy meals from the choices offered, the program requires that students must take three (3) of the five (5) components with one (1) being a fruit or vegetable.  A variety of milk that is offered and free of charge with any school lunch.  Students not selecting at least three (3) components will be charged the ala carte price for each selection. 

All grades except the Learning Center and PreK will have Offer versus Serve options.  Students must make the choice to accept or refuse any item.

Some snack items are available.  A-la-carte items are any items other than a tray meal.  This includes milk, juice, snacks, and extra tray items.

A water fountain is available to all students.

Non Discrimination Policy

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by: : (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.