Descriptor Term:

STUDENT MEALS CHARGE

Descriptor Code:

DE

Presented to Board:

Adopted by Board:

April 8, 2008

Revised by Board:

It is the Guilford County Schools belief that students learn better when they are well fed. Hunger can lead to nervousness, irritability, disinterest in the learning situation and a shortened attention span. Therefore, while no elementary or middle school student will be deprived a meal or served an alternative or differentiated meal because the student forgot or lost his/her meal money, the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) will be responsible for repaying School Nutrition Services (SNS) for the charged meals.  Further, Federal policy (FNS Instruction 791-1) prohibits the withholding of meals and milk from a child as a form of discipline/punishment.

There will be no charging of meals or a la carte sales for high school students or adults.

Students or their parents may pay for meals in advance in the school cafeteria or on-line through www.lunchprepay.com. 

The Federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) A-87 Circular prohibits the use of federal funds to offset meal charges to students or adults.  The write-off of these outstanding balances is considered as a bad debt which is an unallowable use of federal funds. Local or non-SNS funds must be used to replace SNS revenue losses as a result of meals charged by students.