Meal Charging Policy

Meal Charging Policy and Procedures for Student/Adult Lunch Meal Accounts
St. Lawrence School 2025-2026 School Year

St. Lawrence School recognizes that adequate nutrition is essential to student’s mental, physical and academic growth. All children (grades Pre-K thru 8) participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), whether at a free, reduced or paid rate, will receive a full reimbursable lunch meal that meets USDA requirements regardless of whether the students have funds to "pay” for the cost of the meal at the time of the service.

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) requires school food authorities to establish written administrative guidelines and procedures for meal charges.  St. Lawrence School will adhere to the following meal charge procedures.

The goals of this standard Meal Charging Policy is:

• To treat all students with dignity in the serving line regarding meal accounts
• To support positive situations with staff, student and parent/guardian to the maximum extent possible
• To establish policies that are age appropriate
• To encourage parent/guardian to assume the responsibility of meal payments and to promote self-responsibility of the student
• To establish a consistent policy regarding charges and collection of charges

•    All cafeteria purchases are to be prepaid through FACTS before meal service begins.  If cafeteria purchases cannot be pre-paid by the preferred method through FACTS, payments can be made by cash or checks made out to St. Lawrence School and dropped off to the school office.  All student and staff meals will be verified and invoiced weekly.    

•    If a student does not have a lunch from home, a lunch will be prepared and charged to the students FACTS account.
 
•    A student may charge up to 10 meals maximum (one charge per meal) as long as they establish and maintain a good credit history of making payments on their food service accounts. 

•    A staff member may charge up to 10 meals maximum (one charge per meal) as long as they establish and maintain a good credit history of making payments on their food service accounts.

•    If a student repeatedly comes to school without a lunch, food service employees must report this to the building principal as this may be a sign of abuse or neglect and the proper authorities should be contacted. 

•    Schools may deny a meal to a student who pays reduced or full price and who has reached their 10 maximum charged meals and does not provide the required payment for the current meal. However if the student who pays reduced or full price has enough money in hand for a meal that day, they will not be denied a meal.

•    The food service manager or other school personnel will coordinate communications with the parent(s)/guardian(s) to resolve the matter of unpaid charges by either email or letter.

•    If food services staff suspects that a student may be abusing this policy, written notice will be provided to the parent(s)/guardian(s) that if he/she continues to abuse this policy, the privilege of charging meals will be refused.

•    The automated email system through FACTS will notify parents by email or letter when their child’s meal account reaches a negative balance of $35.00 or 10 meals.  

•    All accounts must be settled 7 business days before the last day of school.  Emails or letters will be sent approximately 10 business days before the last day of school to students who have any negative balances. Negative balances of more than $35.00 not paid in full 7 business days prior to the last day of school will force the Corporation to take action to collect unpaid funds by means of collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method deemed necessary by the Corporation. 

•    Students who graduate or withdraw from the corporation and have $5.00 or more left in their lunch/meal food service account will be notified by email or mail by food services 10 business days before the last day of school and given the option to transfer the funds to another student or to receive a refund. Students who graduate or withdraw from the corporation and have less than $5.00 will not receive a direct notification by email or mail, but the household can contact St. Lawrence School at 812-537-3690 to receive a refund. If no response is received within 10 business days the student’s lunch/meal account will close and the funds will no longer available. Unclaimed remaining balances will be transferred to a meal account donation fund.  

•    Parents or Guardians will receive Meal Charging Policy process information prior to the start of the current school year via the Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook that must be signed each school year prior to first day of school.  

If you have any questions, please call the office at 812-537-3690