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Notice: District's charged meal policy
Dear Parents/Guardians:

The Shaler Area meal program aims to provide nutritious meals to children during the school day. Because student breakfast and lunch payments are local revenues, school districts are required to adopt a meal charge policy. On December 6, 2017, the district approved an updated School Lunch/Breakfast Program – Charged Meal Policy (No. 808.1). The purpose of this policy is to establish fair and consistent rules regarding charges, allow the food service department to collect monies due for meal service provided, and build positive and clear communication between the food service, district staff, and community regarding these guidelines.

Parent(s)/guardian(s) are responsible for ensuring that students have the appropriate form of exchange to pay for their meal.  However, if you are unable to pay for meals, please complete the free and reduced application which is available online at https://www.schoolcafe.com  Keep in mind, all students who were previously on this program must REAPPLY every year. The following are the methods in which you may pay for your child’s meals or a la carte items if you are not eligible for free/reduced lunches.

1. Use the district’s School Cafe online portal  https://www.schoolcafe.com  to add money to your child’s lunch account and check balances  or call 1-877-237-0946.
2. Write a check payable to “SASD Cafeteria Fund” and send it to the school cafeteria or secretary.
3. Send cash to school with your child.

The district understands that occasionally negative balances can occur, accordingly this board policy defines the specific procedures for negative accounts.

In the month of February, families will begin to receive phone calls weekly when a student’s lunch account balance reaches $5 or less. A weekly email also will be sent on Tuesdays when a student’s balance is negative.  If you are not receiving either of these notifications, please send your updated email and contact phone number to your student(s)’ building.  Letters will be sent via regular or certified mail once a student’s lunch account reaches a negative balance of $25 or more. If collection of the negative amount has not occurred or a payment plan is not established within 10 days of the certified letter:

• Report cards will not be mailed or available online
• Access to the parent portal will be denied
• A collection agency may be utilized
• Collections may be turned over to the magistrate
(Parents are responsible to pay the amount due and all fees associated for the collection of amounts due.)

If you have any questions concerning this policy, please contact your building administration.

Sincerely,

Sean C. Aiken
Superintendent of Schools