Business/Non-Instructional Operations

Food Service Charging Policy 3542.2

The goal of the food service program is to provide students with nutritious and healthy foods, through the District’s food services program, that will enhance learning. The school nutrition program is an essential part of the education system and by providing good-tasting, nutritious meals in pleasant surroundings; we are helping to teach students the value of good nutrition. The Board of Education (Board) has an agreement with the Connecticut State Department of Education to participate in one or more school Child Nutrition Programs and accepts full responsibility for adhering to the federal and state guidelines and regulations pertaining to these school Child Nutrition Programs. The Board also accepts full responsibility for providing free or reduced-price meals to eligible elementary and secondary students enrolled in the District’s schools. Applicants for such meals are responsible to pay for meals until the application for the free or reduced-price meals is completed and approved. All applications for free and reduced-price lunch and any related information will be considered strictly confidential and not to be shared outside of the District’s food services program without prior permission. Meals are planned to meet the specified nutrient standards outlined by the United States Department of Agriculture for children based on their age or grade group.

Although not required by law, because of the District’s participation in the Child Nutrition Programs, the Board approves the establishment of a system to allow a student to charge a meal.

The Board realizes that funds from the non-profit school food service account, according to federal regulations, cannot be used to cover the cost of charged meals that have not been paid.

Moreover, federal funds are intended to subsidize the meals of children and may not be used to subsidize meals for adults (teachers, staff and visitors). Adults are not allowed to charge meals and shall pay for such meals at the time of service or through pre-paid accounts.

The Board prohibits the public identification or shaming of a child/student for any unpaid charges, including, but not limited to, the following:

● Delaying or refusing to serve a meal to such student,
● Designating a specific meal option for such student or otherwise taking any disciplinary action against such student.

A student needing to charge a meal will be informed of their right to purchase a meal, which may exclude a la carte items, for any school breakfast, lunch or other feeding.

In order to sustain the District’s food services program, the District cannot permit the excessive charging of student meals. Therefore, any charging of meals must be consistent with this policy and any accompanying regulations. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall develop regulations designed to effectively and respectfully address family responsibility for unpaid meals.

Any parent/guardian who anticipates a problem with paying for meals is encouraged to contact the Food Services Director and/or the applicable school Principal for assistance. The Board encourages all families who may have a child eligible for free or reduced-price lunch to submit an application.

Elementary and Secondary Students

Students shall be allowed to charge up to thirty (30) meals. The student will be given the same reimbursable meal that other children are provided. Parents/Guardians of students who charge shall be notified by phone or email, after their child has charged the cost of 5 meals. If a pattern of charging continues, attempts will be made to discuss the issue with the parents/guardians and encourage them to complete a free and reduced meal application. Communications with parents/guardians regarding collection of a child’s unpaid meal charges shall include information on local food pantries, applications for free or reduced-price meals and the Department of Social Services’ supplemental nutrition assistance program, and a link to the District’s website that lists any community services available to town/city residents. When a child’s unpaid meal charges equal or exceed the cost of thirty (30) meals, such child’s parent/guardian shall be referred to the District’s homeless education liaison.

For households that cannot afford to pay their school meal charges, the school district will work with them to establish a payment plan. Households that are subsequently certified for free or reduced-price school meals at a point later in the school year shall not immediately be required to repay school meal debt accrued in that school year. The school district will submit retroactive claims for any meals charged to the household from the date of application to the date of certification, to the extent allowed by USDA guidance.

The Board will accept gifts, donations, or grants from any public or private sources for the purpose of paying off any unpaid meal charges of students.

Dissemination of Policy

This policy shall be provided in writing to all households at the start of each school year and to households transferring to the District during the school year. This policy shall be provided to all District staff responsible for its enforcement. In addition, school social workers, nurses, the homeless liaison, and other staff members assisting children in need or who may be contacted by families with unpaid meal charges shall be informed of this policy.

The District shall maintain, to the extent required by law, documentation of the methods used to communicate this policy to households and District staff responsible for policy enforcement.

The District shall provide this policy to the Connecticut State Department of Education during Administrative Reviews.

The Superintendent or designee may, if necessary and appropriate, develop administrative regulations in furtherance of this policy.

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes

10-215 Lunches, breakfasts and other feeding programs for public school children and employees. (as amended by PA 21-46)

10-215a Nonpublic school and nonprofit agency participation in feeding programs.

10-215b Duties of State Board of Education re feeding programs.
State Board of Education Regulations

State of Connecticut, Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education Operational Memorandum No. 4-17, “Guidance on Unpaid Meal Charges and Collection of Delinquent Meal Payments,” Nov. 2, 2016

Operational Memorandum #19-10, State of Connecticut, Bureau of Health/Nutrition, Family Services and Adult Education “Unallowable Charges to No-profit School Food Service Accounts and the Serving of Meals to No-paying Full and Reduced-Price Students”

National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program; Competitive Foods. (7 CFR Parts 210 and 220, Federal Register, Vol 45 No. 20, Tuesday, January 29, 1980, pp 6758-6772

USDA Guidance:

●   SP 46-2016, “Unpaid Meal Charges: Local Meal Charge Policies”
●   SP 47-2016, “Unpaid Meal Charges: Clarification on Collection of Delinquent Meal Payment”
●   SP 57-2016 “Unpaid Meal Charges: Guidance and Q and A”
●   SP 58-2016 “2016 Edition: Overcoming the Unpaid Meal Challenge: Proven Strategies from Our Nation’s Schools”

Revised:

June 9, 2025

March 28, 2022

Vernon Public Schools

3000 Business and Non-Instructional Operations

3000 Concept and Roles in Business and Non-Instructional Operations (Policy Reviewed 6-14-2021)

3010 Goals and Objectives (Policy Reviewed 6-14-2021)

Budget

3111 Fiscal Year (Policy Reviewed 6-14-2021)

3120 Budget Development (Policy Reviewed 6-14-2021)

3150 Budget Adoption (Policy Reviewed 6-14-2021)

3160 Budget Administration (Policy Revised 6-14-2021)

3231 Medicaid Reimbursement for Special Education Students (Policy Revised 6-14-2021)

3240 Tuition Fees (Policy Revised 6-14-2021)

3250 Materials/Services Fees, Charges (Policy Reviewed 6-14-2021)

3260 Sales and Disposal of Obsolete Books, Equipment and Supplies (Policy Revised 10-15-2024)

3280 Gifts, Grants, Bequests and Supplemental Funding (Policy Revised 10-15-2024)

3290 Grants and Other Revenue (Policy Revised 6-14-2021)

Purchasing

3313 Relationships with Vendors (Policy Reviewed 6-28-2021)

3313.1 Local Purchasing (Policy Reviewed 6-28-2021

3320 Purchasing Procedures (Policy Revised 6-28-2021)

3321 Requisitions for Goods and Services (Policy Deleted 6-28-2021)

3323 Requisition, Price Solicitation and Bid Requirements for Goods and Services (Policy Revised 6-28-2021)

3324 Purchase Orders and Contracts (Policy Revised 6-28-2021)

3326 Paying for Goods and Services (Policy Reviewed 6-28-2021)

3326.1 Payroll Procedures and Authorized Signatures (Policy Revised 6-28-2021)

3432 Financial Records and Reports (Policy Revised 6-28-2021)

3434 Periodic Audit (Policy Revised 6-28-2021)

3435 Fraud Prevention and Investigation (Policy Reviewed 10-15-2024)

3436 Code of Conduct Governing Procurements Under a Federal Award (Policy Adopted 11-11-2024)

3440 Inventories (Policy Reviewed 6-28-2021)

3450 Monies in School Buildings (Policy Revised 6-28-2021)

3453 School Activity Funds (Policy Reviewed 10-15-2024)

3510 Operation and Maintenance of Plant (Policy Revised 6-28-2021)

3511 Compliance with 504 Regulations (Policy Revised 10-15-2024)

3513.1 Energy Conservation (Policy Reviewed 6-28-2021)

3514 Authorized Use of School Equipment (Policy Reviewed 12-9-2024)

3515 Facilities Use (Policy Revised 6-28-2021)

3516 Safety (Policy Reviewed 5-13-2024)

3516.3 Accident Prevention and Reporting (Policy Revised 10-12-2021)

3516.5 Sexual Offenders on School Property (Policy Reviewed 6-10-2024)

3517 Security for School System Facilities and Property (Policy Revised 6-10-2024)

3524 Hazardous Materials in Schools (Policy Reviewed 10-12-2021)

3524 Hazardous Materials in Schools: Green Cleaning Programs (Policy Adopted 6-10-2024)

3524.1 Hazardous Materials in Schools (Policy Revised 10-12-2021)

3532 Liability Automobile Property Insurance (Policy Revised 10-12-2021)

3534 Employee/Officer Bonds (Policy Reviewed 10-12-2021)

Transportation of Students

3541 Transportation of Students (Policy Reviewed 10-12-2021)

3541.10 Parent/Guardian Responsibility (Policy Revised 10-12-2021)

3541.11 Pupil Responsibility and Eligibility (Policy Revised 10-12-2021)

3541.12 Board of Education Responsibility (Policy Revised 10-25-2021)

3541.13 Superintendent Responsibility (Policy Revised 10-25-2021)

3541.14 Administrator Responsibility (Policy Revised 10-25-2021)

3541.15 Bus Driver Qualifications and Responsibility (Policy Revised 10-25-2021)

3541.3 Definitions (Policy Revised 10-25-2021)

3541.43 Public Notification of Bus Routes (Policy Revised 10-25-2021)

3541.431 Appeals (Policy Revised 10-25-2021)

3541.5 Safety and Records Reports (Policy Revised 10-25-2021)

3541.6 Hazardous Conditions (Policy Revised 10-25-2021)

3541.7 Transportation to Child Care Sites (Policy Revised 10-25-2021)

3541.9 Inappropriate Behavior on School System Vehicles and Consequences (Policy Revised 3-28-2022)

Food Services

3542 School Lunch Service (Policy Revised 1-24-2022)

3542.1 Purposes and Facilities (Policy Revised 1-24-2022)

3542.2 Food Service Charging Policy (Policy Revised 6-9-2025)

3542.22 Food Service Personnel – Code of Conduct (Policy Revised 1-24-2022)

3542.31 Free or Reduced Price Lunches (National School Lunch Program) (Policy Revised 1-24-2022)

3542.4 Food Sales by Students/Others (Policy Reviewed 6-12-2017)

3542.41 Professional Standards for Food Service Personnel (New Policy 4-14-2016)

3542.42 Finance (Policy Revised 1-24-2022)