It's been proven that children who aren't hungry feel better, learn
better and behave better. The EVSC's Office of Food and Nutrition is
responsible for providing breakfast and lunch everyday at the
corporation's 39 schools. The Office strives to serve healthy,
nutritious meal options and follows dietary guidelines set forth by the
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The EVSC
strongly discourages meal charges but understands there are instances
when a student may need assistance with meal funds; therefore, the
following guidelines for meal charges and collections will apply.
1.
Parents have the responsibility to provide a meal from home, provide
money for the student to obtain a meal or to apply for federal meal
assistance through the Free and Reduced Meal program.
a. Free
and Reduced Meal applications are available in each school office or by
contacting the Food & Nutrition Office at 435-8262.
b.
Students are expected to pay for lunch or bring lunch from home until
the household receives written notification of free or reduced status.
Any negative balance accumulated before a student receives written
approval must be paid in order to bring the negative account to zero.
2.
At the high school level, a student must obtain an IOU slip from the
school office if he/she does not have money in hand or in the meal
account. Meals cannot be charged without this slip, and the student is
expected to pay the IOU back the following day.
3. Elementary
and middle school students will be allowed to charge a meal when the
need arises, but parents are expected to take steps to bring the
negative balance to zero or a positive amount in a timely manner.
4.
Students are informed at the cash register when their meal account is
in need of funds. Payment reminders are sent home on a weekly basis with
elementary students who have a negative balance, bi-weekly Connect Ed
courtesy calls are made to all households with a negative balance of
$10.00 or more, and twice a year notification letters are sent by US
mail to households with a balance of $20.00 or more to inform them of
the negative balance and outline payment options.
5. A la Carte food may not be charged, and students with a negative account balance may not purchase a la carte food.
6. Parents are encouraged to use EZSchoolPay.com
for tracking their student’s balance and to set up automatic low
balance reminders. Payments into student accounts may also be made by
using EZSchoolPay.com.
7. Student accounts
with a negative balance of $50.00 or more are sent letters by US mail
advising the household that if there is no attempt to make a payment
(partial payments are accepted) within a two week period of time, the
negative meal account balance will be turned over to an outside
collection agency which will incur additional court costs.
8. EVSC adult staff will be limited to one meal charge.
Should you have questions, please call the Office of Food and Nutrition at 435-8262 or email
food@evsc.k12.in.us.