Why buy lunch at school?
District 65 serves a nutritious every day. Lunches are prepared with care, and menus follow dietary guidelines, offering children a number of choices every day. School lunches cost less than bringing an equally nutritious lunch from home. They are a convenient and easy way for families to ensure that their child(ren) have a safe and economical meal each and every school day.
Who prepares menus and where are they available?
Menus are prepared by experienced food service staff under the direction of a registered dietitian. At the end of each month, elementary and middle school students receive a copy of the lunch and breakfast menu for their school for the following month. Menus are also available on the Food Service main page.
How do students pay for lunch?
Families may either pay cash or use the WinSNAP program for prepaid lunches.
How does the WinSNAP program work?
Prpayments are made into a student’s individual lunch account. Elementary and middle school students access their accounts by presenting their bar coded student ID card to the lunchroom cashier. Middle school students input their personal ID number into a keypad at the register. The account can be used to purchase lunch and a la carte items. If the account is for lunch only, families must indicate MEALS ONLY in the memo portion of the check and on the prepayment form.
What are the advantages of prepayment?
Prepayment improves lunchtime efficiency. Students can pass through the lines faster, giving them more time to eat. Because all students who prepay use the same method for entering their ID number, there is no identification of whether the student is paying full price or receiving a subsidy. And, because there is no cash, prepayment also helps to ensure that students use their lunch money to purchase lunch.
How can I establish an account?
To establish a line of credit, please complete the prepayment form (available at school). Send the form and a check (payable to District 65 Food Services) to school with your student. Please list the student’s name and PIN (ID number) on the check. If payment is received before lunch or on the lunch line, the student will be able to use the funds that same day.
Elementary school students are instructed to give the forms and checks to their teacher when school starts. Middle school students are instructed to take their prepayments to the kitchen manager before school or pay while purchasing on the line.
What happens when the account has a negative balance?
The food service cashier will alert the student when their account is low and give them a prepayment form to take home and return the next day with money for the account. Up to two "loan lunches" are provided for students who forget their lunch money. The negative balance in their account will be deducted from a future payment.
Negative Balance Policy: Food Service staff will review a negative balance report after money has been entered at the start of each day at the elementary schools and Bessie Rhodes Magnet School and at the cashier for middle schools and King Lab Magnet School. We will do our best to extend two meal credits to students. The amount owed will be deducted from future payments.Negative balances should be paid immediately.
NSF CHECK POLICY: District 65 Food Service will Assess a $15.00 Charge for Any Check Returned for Insufficient Funds
May students use cash to purchase meals?
Yes, cash may be used. However, the district encourages use of the prepayment plan.
May students who receive free or reduced-price meals bring a lunch from home?
Students may bring a lunch from home. Please note, however, according to Federal guidelines, if a child is eligible for Free or Reduced price meals and brings a lunch from home, there is a$.60 charge for milk when milk is purchased without taking the complete meal.
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