Managing Meal Accounts

A healthy, filling meal is essential to student learning. The JCSD Nutrition Department closely monitors student lunch account balances to prevent negative balances and charges as follows:

Elementary K-5:

  • When a meal account balance reaches $10.00 or less a written balance notification will be sent home with the student one time per week,
  • When a meal account balance reaches zero dollars ($0.00) a phone call will be made to parents one time per week.
  • When a meal account reaches negative $10.00 a Free and Reduced Meal application is sent to the parent along with a copy of the meal charging policy.
  • When a meal account becomes negative by $20.00 or more we suggest the parent to make arrangements for their student’s lunch.

Secondary 6-12:

  • When a meal account balance reaches $5.00 or less, the cashier will verbalize the balance to the student.
  • When a meal account balance reaches zero dollars ($0.00) or less, the student is not allowed to charge extra’s or ala carte.
  • When a meal account balance falls below zero dollars ($0.00) the student will be allowed to charge one meal per dy.
  • When a meal account becomes negative by $10.00 or more students may pay cash or bring a lunch from home until funds are deposited into the account. A Free and Reduced Meal application will be sent to the parent along with the meal charging policy. There will be no charging when the account balance is below negative $10.00.

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.

Negative Account Balances

The school district will make reasonable efforts to notify families when meal account balances are low. However, the failure of the school district to notify families shall not relieve families’ obligations to keep meal account balances current; nor shall it prevent the school district from being able to take all actions legally available to collect any delinquent account balances. Additionally, the school district will make reasonable efforts to collect unpaid meal charges classified as delinquent debt. Negative balances of more than $20.00, not paid prior to the end of the school year will be turned over to the Director of Nutrition Services or designee for collection. Options may include: collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method permitted by law.

2022-23 Online Free and Reduced Lunch Application

If you prefer to fill out the paper Free and Reduced application, please call the Nutrition office at 515-278-0470