CHILD NUTRITION MEAL CHARGE POLICY
ANDERSON BOARD OF EDUCATION COCA
CHILD NUTRITION MEAL CHARGE POLICY
The School District offers nutritious school meals to students at a minimal cost. In order to avoid adversely affecting the Child Nutrition program financially, the School Board establishes policy regarding the charging of school lunches and breakfasts. Negative student balances affect the ability of the Child Nutrition program to operate in a fiscally responsible manner.
- The District does not allow the charging of student meals. All non-employee cafeteria meals to be purchased in advance, with no charges allowed or balances due to be carried by the district on behalf of any student, patron, or visitor.
- It is the sacred responsibility of any parent to provide food and/or meals for their children. A child attending school does not exempt a parent from this fundamental and first-order duty as a parent.
- Parents may choose to purchase meal credits in advance, allowing their child to receive school-provided meals from the cafeteria. Alternatively, parents are welcome to send their child with a packed breakfast or lunch from home.
- Meal credits may be purchased online with a credit card, subject to an additional service charge for the convenience of paying online.
- Meal credits may also be purchased in the school office with cash or check, with no additional fee attached.
- Notices of low meal-credit balances will be communicated to the parents/guardians on a regular and consistent basis to avoid issues. Communications regarding finances, a family’s ability to qualify for free lunches, or other personal information will be directly with the parent or guardian.
- In the event that a child utilizing cafeteria lunches should present with no meal-credits, the student will be provided an alternative meal or snack. The parent or guardian will be notified that they have run out of meal credits, and that they need to send cash or check with the child to purchase credits, or pack a sack-lunch for their child.
- All Parents are encouraged to apply for the Free and Reduced Lunch Program under the federal government guidelines. Applications are available at the school and on the district website.
- School employees who wish to access cafeteria meals have the option of enlisting in an automatic-deduct option from their monthly paycheck. Employees wishing to take advantage of this may fill out the appropriate paperwork with the Payroll Clerk.
Board Adopted 6/26/2025 Page 1 of 1