The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) requires school food authorities to establish written administrative guidelines and procedures for meal charges. Twin Lakes School Corporation will adhere to the following meal charge procedure.

• Application Process

  1. It is very important for all families who may qualify for free and reduced lunches to

• accurately complete an application when they register for school.  Federal E-Rate funding

• for technology and communications is derived from the overall percentage of families who

• are certified for free and reduced lunches.

  2. TL personnel should take extra time and effort to assist families with the online application

• process.  The paper application may be used when necessary.

  3. Families that are certified through the direct certification program are not required to complete the application. Caution must be taken to include new students including kindergarten students.

  4. Applications may be placed at TL food distribution centers to assist families.

  5. Administrators, Secretaries, and Teachers are to attempt to identify families that may qualify for this benefit but have not completed the application. Every effort must be made

• to certify all students who may qualify.  Caution must be taken to identify high school

• students who are not eating lunch that may qualify for lunch assistance.

Routines for School Charging of Meals

• All cafeteria purchases are to be prepaid before meal service begins. Pre-payment includes online payment, cash, or good check.

• A student may charge up to 3 meals maximum (one charge per meal) as long as they establish and maintain a good credit history of making payments on their food service accounts. This equates to $8.70 Elem/RMS, and $9.15 HS. Students may not charge breakfast. The school corporation is not required to allow meal charges, and is not required to provide alternate meals. Schools will provide up to 3 alternative meals of a cheese sandwich, fruit and unflavored milk to a student who pays reduced or full price and who does not provide the required payment for that meal.

• Staff members are not allowed to charge meals.

• A student who has charged a meal may not charge or purchase “a la carte” item(s), including extra main entrees.

• Schools may deny a meal to a student who pays reduced or full price and who does not provide the required payment for that meal. However, if the student who pays reduced or full price has enough money in hand for a meal that day, they will not be denied a meal.

• The food service manager or other school personnel will coordinate communications with the parent(s)/guardian(s) to resolve the matter of unpaid charges, via phone or letter sent home. If a student repeatedly comes to school with no lunch and no money, food service employees must report this to the building principal as this may be a sign of abuse or neglect and the proper authorities should be contacted.

• If food services staff suspects that a student may be abusing this policy, written notice will be provided to the parent(s)/guardian(s) that if he/she continues to abuse this policy, the privilege of charging meals or receiving alternate meals will be refused.

• All accounts must be settled at the end of the school year. Letters or calls home will be made when students reach the 3 meal charging maximum-negative balance. Negative balances of more than $7.05/$7.50 not paid in full 14 days prior to the last day of school will force the Corporation to take action to collect unpaid funds by means of collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method deemed necessary by the Corporation.

• Students who graduate or withdraw from the corporation and have $5.00 or more left in their lunch/meal food service account will be notified in person, by mail, or phone by food services at time of withdrawal or May 1 of the current school year. and given the option to transfer the funds to another student or to receive a refund. If no response is received within 7 days, the student’s lunch/meal account will close and the funds will no longer available. Unclaimed remaining balances will be transferred to a school care fund.