District Policy
8550? UNPAID MEAL STANDING FOOD SERVICE CHARGES

Section: Operations
Date Created: August, 2017
Date Edited: September, 2019

The Board of Education understands a student may forget to bring breakfast or lunch, as
applicable, or money to purchase breakfast or lunch to school on a school day. When this
happens, the food service program will provide a student a breakfast or lunch with an
expectation payment will be made the next school day or shortly thereafter. However,
there may be circumstances when payment is not made and a student?s school breakfast or
lunch bill is in arrears. The school district will manage a student?s breakfast or lunch bill
that is in arrears in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. and this Policy.

In the event there are no funds in a student?s account, or a student?s school lunch or
breakfast bill is in arrears, the student will not be permitted to charge a la carte items. in
the event a student?s school lunch or breakfast bill is in arrears in excess of $10.00, the
student will continue to receive lunch or breakfast and their account will be charged
accordingly; however, the Superintendent or designee shall contact the student?s parent in
writing to provide notice of the amount in arrears and shall provide the parent a period of
ten school days to pay the full amount due. in the event a student? 5 school lunch or breakfast
bill is in arrears in excess of $25.00, the student will continue to receive lunch or breakfast
and their account will be charged accordingly; however, the building principal or guidance
counselor will contact the parents via telephone to discuss the amount of the outstanding
balance and any current familial needs. Parents will be encouraged to complete a Free and
Reduced Price School Meals Application, if one is not already on file. The parent will be
provided a period of ten school days to pay the full amount due. If the student?s parent
does not make full payment to the Business Administrator or designee by the end of the
ten school days, the Superintendent or designee shall again contact the student?s parent in
writing and via telephone to provide an updated notice that their child?s breakfast or lunch
bill is in arrears. If payment in full is not made within ten days from the date of the second
notice, the student will still be provided breakfast or lunch from the standard meal choices
of the day and the Superintendent or designee shall again contact the student?s parent in
writing, weekly, to provide an updated notice that their child?s breakfast or lunch bill is in
arrears. If the bill is in arrears in excess of $75.00, the parents will be required to attend an
in?person meeting with the Superintendent or designee, the Business Administrator or
designee, and the Building Principal to address the outstanding balance. Payment in full
must be provided by the parent within ten school days after this meeting. Failure to address
the arrears will result in the matter being governed by Policy 5513-Care of School Property.

If the student?s breakfast or lunch bill is in arrears, but the student has the money to
purchase breakfast or lunch, the student will be provided breakfast or lunch and the food
service program will not use the student?s money to repay previously unpaid charges ifthe

student intended to use the money to purchase that day?s meal. The student will not be
permitted to purchase a la carte items.

The food service program will prevent the overt identification of children through the
method of payment used to purchase a meal and whose breakfast or lunch bill is in arrears.

In accordance with the provisions of the United States Department of Agriculture, this
Policy shall be provided in writing to all households at the start of each school year and to
households transferring to the school or school district during the school year. The school
district may post this Policy on the school or school district?s website provided there is a
method in place to ensure this Policy reaches all households, particularly those households
without access to a computer or the Internet.

This Policy shall also be provided to all school and food service staff responsible for the
enforcement of this Policy, including school administrators to ensure this Policy is
supported.

The food service program will comply with all meal charge policy requirements of the
United States and New Jersey Department of Agriculture and N.J.S.A. 

N.J.S.A. 18Az33-21

United States Department of Agriculture SP 23-2017 March 23, 2017
Adopted: April 2017

Revised: September 2019