710 School Food Services

710.1 School Nutrition Program

The school district will operate a school nutrition program in each attendance center.  The school nutrition program will include meals through participation in the National School Lunch Program.  Students may bring their lunches from home and purchase milk and other incidental items.

 

School nutrition program facilities are provided to serve students and employees when school is in session and during school-related activities.  They may also be used under the supervision of the Director of Food Service for food service to employee groups, parent-teacher meetings, civic organizations meeting for the purpose of better understanding the schools, and senior citizens in accordance with law and board policy.

 

The school nutrition program is operated on a nonprofit basis.  The revenues of the school nutrition program will be used only for the operation or improvement of such programs.  Supplies of the school nutrition program will only be used for the school nutrition program.

 

The board will set, and annually review, the prices for school nutrition programs.  It is the responsibility of the superintendent or superintendent’s designee to make a recommendation regarding the prices of the school nutrition programs, in accordance with federal and state law.

 

It is the responsibility of the Director of Food Service to administer the program and to cooperate with the superintendent and appropriate personnel for the proper functioning of the school nutrition program.

 

The district shall comply with all federal and state laws and regulations required for procurement, including the selection and evaluation of contractors.  The superintendent or designee is responsible for developing an administrative process to implement this policy, including, but not limited to, procedures related to suspension and debarment for transactions subject to those requirements.

 

Date Board Adopted: 6/18/2013

Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022

 

 

Legal Reference:          42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq..

                                    7 C.F.R. Pt. 210 et seq..

                                    Iowa Code ch. 283A.

                                    281 I.A.C. 58.

 

 

 

 

710.1E1 School Nutrition Program Notices of Nondiscrimination

Code No.  710.1E1

 

 

SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM NOTICES OF NONDISCRIMINATION

 

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

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, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint, 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
 

3.     Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Iowa Nondiscrimination Statement

It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office Building, 400 E 14th St, Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121 or 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.

710.1E2 Child Nutrition Programs Civil Rights Complaint Form

Code No.  710.1E2

 

 

CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT FORM

 

Complaint Contact Information:

Name: _____________________________________________________________________

Street Address, City, State, Zip:  __________________________________________________

County:                                                             

Area Code/Phone:________________

Email Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________

Complaint information:

  1. Specific name and location of the entity and individual delivering the service or benefit:
  2. Describe the incident or action of the alleged discrimination or give an example of the situation that has a discriminatory effect on the public, potential program participants, or current participants:
  3. On what basis does the complainant feel discrimination exists (race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, sexual orientation, religion, gender identity, political party affiliation, actual/potential parental/family/marital status)?
  4. List the names, titles, and business addresses of persons who may have knowledge of the alleged discriminatory action:
  5. List the date(s) during which the alleged discriminatory actions occurred, or if continuing, the duration of such actions:
  6. Date complaint received:                                                                                                                                                            
  7. Person receiving complaint:                                                                                                                                                      
  8. Action(s) taken:

 

 

USDA is the cognizant agency for the Child Nutrition Programs listed and therefore is the first contact for the six protected classes of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability for complaints received within 180 days.  Civil rights complaints must be submitted to the USDA Office of Civil Rights within five calendar days of receipt and no later than 180 days of the discriminatory act.  The link for submission of a complaint is: program.intake@usda.gov.

In Iowa, protected classes also include sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or creed and complaints can be filed up to 300 days of occurrence.  The address for Iowa complaints is: Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office building, 400 E. 14th St. Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website:https://icrc.iowa.gov/.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.12/2021

710.1R1 School Nutrition Program Civil Rights Complaint Procedure

Code No.  710.1R1

 

 

SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM CIVIL RIGHTS COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

USDA Child Nutrition Programs in Iowa

 

Procedures for Handling a Civil Rights Complaint

 

  1. Civil rights complaints related to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Afterschool Care Snack Program, Summer Food Service Program, Seamless Summer Option, or Child and Adult Care Food Program are written or verbal allegations of discrimination based on USDA protected classes of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability.
  2. Any person claiming discrimination has a right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discrimination.  See below for additional Iowa Civil Rights information. A civil rights complaint based on the protected classes listed in #1 above must be forwarded to the address on the nondiscrimination statement.

 

  1. All complaints, whether written or verbal, must be accepted by the School Food Authority (SFA)/Sponsor/Organization and forwarded to USDA at the address or link on the nondiscrimination statement within 5 calendar days of receipt. An anonymous complaint should be handled the same way as any other.  Complaint forms may be developed, but their use cannot be required.  If the complainant makes the allegations verbally or in a telephone conversation and is reluctant or refuses to put them in writing, the person who handles the complaint must document the description of the complaint.

 

  1. There must be enough information to identify the agency or individual toward which the complaint is directed and indicate the possibility of a violation.  Every effort should be made to obtain at least the following information:
    • Name, address and telephone number or other means of contacting the complainant;
    • The specific location and name of the organization delivering the program service or benefit;
    • The nature of the incident(s) or action(s) that led the complainant to feel there was discrimination;
  2. The basis on which the complainant feels discrimination occurred (race, color, national origin, sex, age, ordisability);
  3. The names, titles, and addresses of people who may have knowledge of the discriminatory action(s);and
  4. The date(s) when the alleged discriminatory action(s) occurred or, if continuing, the duration of suchaction(s).

 

  1. USDA is the cognizant agency for the Child Nutrition Programs listed and therefore is the first contact for the sixprotected classes listed in #1 above, for complaints received within 180 days.  Civil rights complaints must be submittedto the USDA Office of Civil Rights within five calendar days of receipt and no later than 180 days of the discriminatoryact.  The link for submission of a complaint is: program.intake@usda.gov

 

  1. In Iowa, protected classes also include sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or creed and complaints can be filed up to 300 days of occurrence.  The address for Iowa complaints is: Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office building, 400 E. 14th St. Des Moines, IA 50319- 1004; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website:https://icrc.iowa.gov/.

710.2 Free or Reduced Price Meals Eligibility

Students enrolled and attending school in the school district who meet USDA eligibility guidelines will be provided the school nutrition program services at no cost or at a reduced price.  The school district will make every effort to eliminate any social stigma attached to, and prevent the overt identification of, students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals.

 

The district shall annually notify all families of the availability, eligibility criteria, and application procedures for free or reduced price meals in accordance with state and federal law. 

 

It is the responsibility of the business manager’s secretarial staff to determine the eligibility of students for free or reduced price school nutrition programs, in accordance with criteria established by state and federal law.  If school personnel have knowledge of a student who is in need of free or reduced-price meals, school personnel shall contact the business manager’s secretary.

 

Employees, students not qualified for free meals and others will be required to pay for meals consumed.

 

It is the responsibility of the business manager to develop administrative regulations for implementing this policy.

 

Date Board Adopted: 6/18/2013

Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022

 

 

Legal Reference:          42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq..

                                    7 C.F.R. §§ 210 et seq..

                                    Iowa Code § 283A.

  281 I.A.C. 58.

710.3 Vending Machines

Food served or purchased by students during the school day and food served or purchased for other than special circumstances is approved by school administration.  Vending machines in the school building are the responsibility of school administration.  Purchases from the vending machines, will reflect the guidelines in the Wellness policy 507.9.

 

It is the responsibility of the superintendent or superintendent’s designee to develop administrative regulations for the use of vending machines and other sales of food to students.

 

Date Board Adopted: 6/18/2013

Date Board Updated/Reviewed:03/14/2022

 

Legal Reference:          42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq. (2010).

                                    7 C.F.R. Pt. 210 et seq. (2010).

                                    Iowa Code ch. 283A (2013).

  281 I.A.C. 58.

710.4 Meal Charges

In accordance with state and federal law, the Schleswig Community Schools 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.

 

Payment of Meals

All meal purchases are to be prepaid before meal service begins. Students have use of a meal account.  Families may add money to student accounts via an electronic payment option found on the Schleswig Community School website or pay at the school 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.  Schools are encouraged to provide a reimbursable meal to students with outstanding meal charge debt.  If an alternate meal is provided, the meal must be the same meal presented in the same manner to any student requesting an alternate meal. 

Employees may use an account for meals. All meals and/or a la carte items are to be prepaid in advance. When an account does not have a positive balance, an employee shall not be allowed to charge meals or a la carte items until there is a positive balance in the account to cover the cost.

 

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 communications with the student’s parent or guardian to resolve the matter of unpaid charges. Parents or guardians will be notified of an outstanding negative balance once the balance reaches any negative balance, and will continue to be notified until the account is no longer has a negative balance. Parents or guardians will be notified by a written notification sent home with the student, automated call from the District’s communication system, and a call from school district personnel.  A last notice letter will be mailed home when a negative lunch balance exceeds $60 at which time the negative account will be turned over to the superintendent or superintendent’s designee for collection. Options may include:  collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method permitted by law.

 

Communication of the Policy

The policy and supporting information regarding meal charges shall be provided in writing to:

  • All households at or before the start of each school year;
  • Students and families who transfer into the district, at time of transfer; and
  • All staff responsible for enforcing any aspect of the policy. 

 

Records of how and when the policy and supporting information was communicated to households and staff will be retained.

 

The superintendent or superintendent’s designee may develop administrative regulations for implementing this policy.

 

                                   

 

Date Board Adopted: 6/18/2013

Date Board Updated/Reviewed: 03/14/2022

 

 

Legal Reference:           42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq.

                                    7 C.F.R. §§ 210 et seq.

U.S. Dep’t of Agric., SP 46-2016, Unpaid Meal Charges: Local Meal Charge Policies (2016).

U.S. Dep’t of Agric., SP 47-2016, Unpaid Meal Charges: Clarification on Collection of Delinquent Meal Payments (2016).

U.S. Dep’t of Agric., SP 57-2016, Unpaid Meal Charges: Guidance and Q&A (2016).

                                    Iowa Code 283A.

                                    281 I.A.C. 58.