5120 Meal Charging Policy

The Newtown Board of Education (the “Board”) recognizes the importance of providing  nutritious food to students in the Newtown Public Schools (the “District”). 

The Board is a sponsor of the District-wide United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)  Food and Nutrition Services’ Child Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch  Program (NSLP). In addition, the District provides a School Breakfast Program (SBP) at  Newtown High School. The District shall adhere to the federal and state guidelines and  regulations pertaining to these school Child Nutrition Programs. In accordance with federal  law, the Board will make a public announcement and notify parents and guardians of the  eligibility criteria for free and reduced price meals and provide information regarding how a  household may make an application for these benefits. Such notice and application will  generally be distributed at the beginning of each school year. 

Charging Meals 

The District uses an automated prepayment system for student meal accounts. Students whose  accounts have insufficient funds, and who do not bring a meal or other funds to school to pay  for meals, may charge meals to their meal accounts. Students will be informed of their right to  purchase a meal, which excludes a la carte items and a second meal or lunch, for any school  breakfast, lunch or other meal offered by the District, even if the student’s account has  insufficient funds. 

The Board prohibits publicly identifying or shaming a student for any unpaid meal charges,  including, but not limited to, the following: 

• Delaying or refusing to serve a meal to such student; 
• Designating a specific meal option for the student; or 
• Otherwise taking any disciplinary action against the student. 

No adults are allowed to charge meals. 

Collection of Unpaid Meal Charges 

The District’s efforts to recover from households money owed due to the charging of meals  must not have a negative impact on the children involved and shall focus primarily on the  adults in the household responsible for providing funds for meal purchases. The District shall  consider whether the benefits of potential collections outweigh the costs that would be incurred  to achieve those collections. 

For purposes of this policy, “delinquent debt” means unpaid meal charges. 

The District will contact the parents/guardians of students who charge meals to their meal  accounts in order for the District to collect the delinquent debt. The first such communication will be a written communication, by mail or e-mail, after $25.00 has been charged. Subsequent  written and verbal communications with parents/guardians concerning delinquent debt will be  made by the building administrator or designee, as may be necessary and appropriate. All  communications regarding unpaid meal charges shall be made directly and discreetly to  parents/guardians. Written communications with parents/guardians regarding collection of a  student’s unpaid meal charges shall include an application for free or reduced price meals,  information on local food pantries and the Connecticut Department of Social Services’  supplemental nutrition assistance program, and a link to the Town’s website that lists the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Town’s Department of Social Services.

In the event a student’s unpaid meal charges are equal to or more than the cost of thirty (30)  meals, the parents/guardians of such student will be referred to the District’s homeless education  liaison. 

The Board shall comply with applicable federal and state laws and other federal or state  requirements concerning the collection of unpaid meal charges, including but not limited to  requirements relating to delinquent debt and “bad debt,” as defined by federal law, and record keeping relating thereto. The Board may accept gifts, donations or grants from any public or  private sources for the purpose of paying off any unpaid charges for school lunches, breakfasts  or other such feeding. By June 30 of each year, the unpaid meal debt must be reimbursed by  Board of Education funds and not the nonprofit school food service account (NSFSA). 

Dissemination of Policy 

This policy shall be provided in writing to all households at the start of each school year and to  households transferring to the District during the school year. This policy shall be provided to  District staff responsible for its enforcement: Director of Business, principals, bookkeeper,  school social workers, nurses, and the homeless liaison. When other staff members assisting  children in need or who may be contacted by families with unpaid meal charges are identified,  they will receive an electronic copy of the policy. 

The District shall maintain, to the extent required by law, documentation of the methods used to  communicate this policy to households and District staff responsible for policy enforcement. 

The District shall provide this policy to the Connecticut State Department of Education during  Administrative Reviews. 

The Superintendent or designee may, if necessary and appropriate, develop administrative  regulations in furtherance of this policy. 

Legal References: 

State law: 

Connecticut General Statutes 

§ 10-215 Lunches, breakfasts and other feeding programs for public  school children and employees. 

State of Connecticut, Department of Education, School Health, Nutrition and Family Services Operational Memorandum No. 11-22, “Connecticut Statutory  Requirements for Unpaid Meal Charges in Public Schools,” June 15, 2022. 

State of Connecticut, Department of Education, Bureau of Health/Nutrition,  Family Services and Adult Education Operational Memorandum No. 4-17,  “Guidance on Unpaid Meal Charges and Collection of Delinquent Meal  Payments,” Nov. 2, 2016. 

Federal law: 

7 C.F.R. Part 210 National School Lunch Program. 

7 C.F.R. Part 220 School Breakfast Program. 

7 C.F.R. Part 245 Determining Eligibility for Free and Reduced Price Meals  and Free Milk in Schools. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Policy Memo SP  46-2016, “Unpaid Meal Charges: Local Meal Charge Policy,” July 8, 2016. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Policy Memo SP  47-2016, “Unpaid Meal Charges: Clarification on Collection of Delinquent  Meal Payments,” July 8, 2016. 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Policy Memo SP  57-2016, “Unpaid Meal Charges: Guidance and Q&A,” Sept. 16, 2016. 

Approved: November 19, 2024 NEWTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS  Newtown, Connecticut