Food Service

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In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

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To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

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MEAL CHARGES POLICY

In accordance with state and federal law, the Mount Ayr School District adopts the following policy to ensure school district employees, families, and students have a shared understanding of expectations regarding meal charges.  The policy seeks to allow students to receive the nutrition they need to stay focused during the school day, prevent the overt identification of students with insufficient funds to pay for school meals, and maintain the financial integrity of the nonprofit school nutrition program.

Students have use of a meal account.  When the balance reaches $0.00 a student may charge no more than $25  to this account.  When an account reaches this limit, a student shall not be allowed to charge further meals or a la carte items until the negative account balance is paid. Families may send money to school with a student, bring to the school office or superintendent office. 

Students who qualify for free meals shall never be denied a reimbursable meal, even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases.  Students with outstanding meal charge debt shall be allowed to purchase a meal if the student pays for the meal when it is received.  Mount Ayr School District may provide an alternate meal that meets federal and state requirements to students who have charged the maximum allowance to the student account and cannot pay out of pocket for a meal.

Employees may use a charge account for meals, but may charge no more than $25 to this account.  When an account reaches this limit, an employee shall not be allowed to charge further meals or a la carte items until the negative account balance is paid.

Negative Account Balances

The school district will make reasonable efforts to notify families when meal account balances are low.  Additionally, the school district will make reasonable efforts to collect unpaid meal charges classified as delinquent debt.  The school district will coordinate communication with families to resolve the matter of unpaid charges.  Families will be notified of an outstanding negative balance once the negative balance reaches $25.00.  Families will be notified by an email automatically sent to parents from the totalk12access lunch program.  Negative balances of more than $25, not paid by the end of the school year will be turned over to the superintendent or superintendent’s designee for collection.  Options for collection may include: collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method permitted by law.