Meal Charge Policy

The Franklin School Committee is committed to providing students with healthy, nutritious meals each day so they can focus on school work, while also maintaining the financial integrity of meal programs and minimizing any impact on students with meal charges. However, unpaid meal charges place a large financial burden on the school district, as food services is a self-supporting entity within the district. The purpose of this policy is to ensure compliance with federal reporting requirements of the USDA Child Nutrition Program, as well as provide oversight and accountability for the collection of outstanding student meal balances.

The provisions of this policy pertain to regular priced school meals only. The School Committee will provide a regular (reimbursable) meal to students who forget or lose their lunch money.

Meal Charges and Balances

Students will pay for meals at the regular rate approved by the School Committee and for their meal status (regular, reduced-price, or free) each day. Payment options will be provided to parents/guardians of incoming students. After the balance reaches zero and enters the negative, students will not be allowed to purchase a la carte items including but not limited to a second entrée, snack, ice cream, or an additional beverage. The student will still be allowed to take a meal, and that meal will continue to be charged to the account at the standard lunch rate based on their meal status.  The parent/guardian is responsible for any meal charges incurred. If there is a financial hardship, a parent/guardian should contact food services directly to discuss payment options such as an individualized repayment plan.

Payments

Parents/Guardians are responsible for all meal payments to the food service program. Notices of low or deficit balances will be sent directly to parent/guardians via email, notice through the Food Service Office, or regular postal mail at regular intervals during the school year.  At no time shall any staff member give payment notices directly to students unless that student is known to be an emancipated minor who is fully responsible for themselves or over the age of 18.  If parent/guardians have issues with student purchases they should contact food services for assistance.Negative balances will not be discussed with students and will be discussed with parents/guardians onlyParents/Guardians may pay for meals in advance. Further details are available on the school district webpage. Funds should be maintained in accounts to minimize the possibility that a child may be without meal money on any given day. Any remaining funds for a particular student, whether positive or negative, will be carried over to the next school year.

All school cafeterias possess computerized point of sale/cash register systems that maintain records of all monies deposited and spent for each student and those records are available to parents/guardians by setting up an online account or by speaking with the school food service director. The point of sale system is designed to prevent direct identification of a student's meal status.  Parents/Guardians will be opted in to receive automated low-balance emails and will receive mailed notices bi-weekly, if student balances falls below the value of three lunches. If notices do not result in payment, parents/guardians may receive a phone call from food services. If the phone call does not result in payment the food service manager shall turn the account over to the business office.

Refunds

 If a student has funds on a prepaid account, any balance at the end of the year will carry over to the following school year. Any balances can be transferred to another student (sibling, friend or neighbor). Transfers can be made between family members through their account. Requests for assistance can be made by calling or emailing the Food Service Office. 

Any amount at or above $25 remaining as a credit balance will be refunded upon request. Such a request can be made one time per calendar year.

After one (1) year of inactivity any remaining credit balance on a school lunch account for a student who is no longer enrolled in the Franklin Public Schools via unenrollment or graduation from the FPS, will become the property of the Franklin School Lunch Program. The funds will be used as a donation to the School Lunch Program to offset uncollected debt.

Delinquent Accounts/Collections

Failure to maintain up to date accounts may result in a student’s inability to participate in fee-based extra-curricular activities such as prom, banquets, dances, etc. Graduating seniors with delinquent accounts may lose the ability to participate in fee-based senior week related activities.

The Superintendent shall ensure that there are appropriate and effective collection procedures and internal controls within the school district's business office that meet the requirements of law.

If a student is without meal money on a consistent basis, the administration may investigate the situation more closely and take further action as needed. If financial hardship exists, parents/guardians and families are encouraged to apply for free or reduced price lunches for their child.  Applications with instructions are available at each school and on the district’s website

Policy Communications

This policy shall be communicated to all staff and families at the beginning of each school year and to families transferring to the district during the year.

LEGAL REFS: MGL 71:72; USDA School Meal Program Guidelines May 2017

  MGL 71:72B;

CROSS REFS: JQ, Student Fees, Fines & Charges

                    EFD-R, Meal Charge Policy & Procedures

SOURCE: MASC February 2018

Adopted by School Committee:  6/26/2018

Reviewed, no revisions:  6/24/2020

Reviewed, Revised, Adopted by School Committee:  6/18/2024