SCHOOL MEAL CHARGE POLICY
Because hunger is an impediment to learning, no child will be denied a school meal because of an inability to pay.
It is the responsibility of parents or family to prepay for school meals, provide a breakfast or lunch from home, or complete an annual application establishing eligibility for free or reduced-price meals. Rainier Prep is unable to use state or federal funds to forgive student meal debts and has established guidelines to help families manage cafeteria accounts.
The following steps will be taken to communicate with families and students regarding their account:
- Kitchen staff may give verbal reminders to students that their meal account needs to be replenished if the account carries a balance of less than $10. (Verbal reminders will not reference whether the account is low or negative.)
- Students may be given a note to take home to inform parents that the meal account is low or negative, or notices may be mailed home.
- Families may receive a reminder phone call.
- Students will receive a complete meal regardless of their account balance.
- School staff will contact families with negative meal balances to inform about the need to add funds to their students’ account, determine ability to pay, or offer assistance connecting with resources or creating a payment plan, as appropriate.
- The district may pursue collection efforts for delinquent meal accounts.
DOES YOUR CHILD QUALIFY FOR FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS?
Families are encouraged to complete an application for Free or Reduced-Price meal benefits anytime during the school year if they find their personal income situation has changed. Applications can be found and requested at Rainier Prep’s main office.
DON’T WANT YOUR STUDENT TO CHARGE?
Parents or guardians may request in writing to not allow their student to charge meals. Written request may be sent by email to nandrade@rainierprep.org or mainoffice@rainierprep.org or delivered to our main office
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions, please contact us at 206-494-5979