The school system operates a school food service program in its schools; it is administered by the director of food service, under the general supervision of the Superintendent.
Food services include hot lunches and breakfasts, through participation in the National School Lunch/Breakfast Program, and supplementary foods necessary to meet the school day nutritional needs of students.
School food service programs are provided to serve students and employees when school is in session and during school-related activities. They may also be used under the supervision of the Superintendent for food service to employee groups, parent-teacher meetings, civic organizations meetings for the purpose of better understanding the schools, and senior citizens in accordance with board policy.
The district shall comply with all federal and state laws and regulations required for procurement, including the selection and evaluation of contractors. The superintendent or designee is responsible for developing an administrative process to implement this policy, including, but not limited to, procedures related to suspension and debarment for transactions subject to those requirements and prohibitions on purchasing food products misbranded as meat or egg products, or cultivated-protein food products in accordance with applicable laws.
Food Service Prices
The Board will set, and periodically review, the prices for school lunches/breakfasts, supplementary foods and milk. It shall be the responsibility of the Superintendent to make a recommendation regarding the prices of school lunches, breakfasts, and milk. Students and others will be required to deposit money into a lunch account to pay for meals consumed. Employees, except for food service personnel, will be required to deposit money into a lunch account for meals consumed.
School food services are operated on a nonprofit basis, and will comply with all regulations pertaining to health, sanitation, and service of foods. School food services will meet all state and federal requirements for participation in state and federal programs.
School food service receipts will be used only to pay for regular food service operating costs. When facilities are used by outside groups or agencies, an adequate fee will be charged, as approved by the board. If facilities are used for other than the regular program, the manager will ensure that no supplies provided for the regular program (or by USDA) are used. The law allows the use of school lunch facilities by senior citizens; when requests for such use are directed to the board, they will be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.
Organization
The director of food service will cooperate with the building food service managers and with the building principals in all matters essential to the proper functioning of the food service program. The building principal in each school will be responsible for maintaining proper student discipline. Food service personnel in each school building will be directly responsible to the building's food service manager, and to the building principal.
General Regulations
As required for participation in the National School Lunch/Breakfast Program, the Board agrees to the following general regulations:
That a “school lunch/breakfast meal pattern” type lunch/breakfast be made available to students;
That free or reduced‑price lunches/breakfasts be provided to students who cannot afford the price of the “school lunch/breakfast meal pattern” lunch/breakfast.
Students will also be permitted to bring their lunches from home and to purchase only beverages and incidental items.
*Revised: 04/08/02
*Reviewed: 01/29/07
*Reviewed: 06/14/10
*Revised: 12/13/10
*Revised: 11/10/14
*Reviewed: 12/10/18
*Revised: 10/14/2024
Students enrolled and attending school in the school district who are unable to afford the the cost or a portion of the cost of a school lunch and breakfast may apply for free or reduced meal costs by filling out income eligibility applications for approval. The food service office will verify the application and determine if meals are at no cost or at a reduced cost.
Students enrolled and attending school in the school district who meet USDA eligibility guidelines will be provided the school nutrition program services at no cost or at a reduced price. The school district shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the overt identification of students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals.
The district shall at least twice annually notify all families of the availability, eligibility criteria, and application procedures for free or reduced price meals in accordance with state and federal law.
It is the responsibility of the Food Service Director to determine the eligibility of students for free or reduced price school nutrition programs, in accordance with criteria established by state and federal. If school personnel have knowledge of a student who is in need of free or reduced-priced meals, school personnel shall contact the Food Service Department. The school is encouraged to provide reimbursable meals to students who request reimbursable meals unless the students’ parent or guardian has specifically provided written direction to the school to withhold a meal from the student.
Employees will be required to pay for meals consumed.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations for implementing this policy.
*Adopted: 12/13/10
*Revised: 1/12/15
*Reviewed: 12/10/18
*Revised: 10/14/2024
In accordance with state and federal law, the Glenwood 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 with a 4 digit pin number and barcode for ease of use during the lunch service times. All meal purchases are to be prepaid before meal service begins. Due to time constraints cash is not accepted during the meal service time as this will slow down service and not allow students sufficient time to eat. Negative accounts are for emergencies only. When the balance reaches $0.00 a student may charge no more than $20.00 per student to this account. The Glenwood Community School District appreciates you always keeping a positive balance. keeping a positive balance at all times. When an account reaches this limit, a student shall not be allowed to charge further meals until the negative account balance is paid. Please send lunch from home to school with your student until the negative balance is paid. Students who do not have sufficient funds shall not be allowed to purchase any ala carte items until additional money is deposited in the student account. All ala carte purchases must come from a positive balance in account.
We offer 2 payment methods:
Online payments at ezschoolpay.com so parents can monitor their child’s meal account balance and transactions online and set up a payment reminder email for FREE. Also, parents may make pre-payments into their child’s account anytime using Visa or MasterCard (credit or debit). The convenience fee of $3.00 is charged by the school district. The fee is designed to cover or offset the normal costs of processing credit card transactions and other costs associated with maintaining a credit card merchant account. If you wish to use this service, you may sign up at www.ezschoolpay.com.
Cash or check deposits are accepted by the food service clerk or the school office at each school. You may send this deposit with your student or bring in yourself. We ask that you send funds to school please put it in a sealed envelope with the student's name and teacher’s name on the envelope at the elementary levels.
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 the day it is received. Please bring these funds into the clerk to deposit before serving time.
The Glenwood School District Superintendent or Director of Food Service may provide an exception to the negative balance limits due to hardship. Please contact the Food Service Office at 712-527-5029 to discuss options if the balance exceeds the negative $20.00 limit per student.
Employees may not charge for meals; negative accounts are not allowed except for an emergency that is pre approved by the Food Service Director. When an account reaches a $0.00 balance, an employee shall not be allowed to charge for meals or ala carte items until the negative account balance is positive.
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 of an outstanding negative balance once the negative balance reaches $0.00. Notification will happen through text notification, phone calls, emails and payment reminders brought home by students at all grade levels.
Elementary families will be notified by email, phone calls, text and computer-generated payment reminders.
Middle School and High School students upon request may be notified in the service line lunch line of lunch balances and families will be notified by email, phone calls, text and computer-generated payment reminders.
Families using the ezschoolpay.com program can set up automatic reminders via email at whatever dollar value the customer chooses for FREE.
Family negative balances of more than $50.00, not paid prior to 30 days will be turned over to the Superintendent or Superintendent’s designee for collection. Options may include any legal method permitted by law. Options may include: collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method permitted by law.
Unpaid Student Meals Account
The district will establish an unpaid student meals account in a school nutrition fund. Funds from private sources and funds from the district flexibility account may be deposited into the unpaid school meals account in accordance with law. Funds deposited into this account shall be used only to pay individual student meal debt.
Communication of the Policy
The policy and supporting information regarding meal charges shall be provided in writing to:
All households at or before the start of each school year;
Students and families who transfer into the district, at time of transfer; and
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.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop an administrative regulation for implementing this policy.
All negative balances must be paid in order for students to walk in commencement.
If you have any questions, please call the Food Services Office at 712-527-5029 or Central Office at 712-527-9034.