The following payment requirements apply to those students that are paying full or reduced-prices for meals.  These payment requirements do NOT apply to those students enrolled in FREE LUNCH under the Federal USDA Child Nutrition Program.

Background and Philosophy

The goal of the School District of Holmen's breakfast and lunch programs is to provide healthy meals for all students each school day.  Achieving this goal is in part dependent upon generating the financial resources necessary to fund the school meal program. Primary funding sources for the District school meal program are the federal government and meal prices charged to families. Federal funds cover the cost of meals for children that come from households with income below defined levels.

To assist families in need, notification of the Free and Reduced Application process will be made prior to the beginning of the school year and are available throughout the year.  Reminders of the Free and Reduced program will be provided by the Nutrition Services Department, school guidance counselors, school psychologists and other professionals as they become aware of a potential need. Reminders will be tactful and respectful of privacy and pride.

Families not meeting federal income guidelines for FREE meals are expected to pay the cost of meals consumed by their child(ren).1  When each family pays for the meals consumed by their child(ren), everyone pays their appropriate share. The District does not support the concept of higher meal prices, so that some families can go without paying for their child(ren)’s meals.  Therefore, the District will require timely and full payment for meals purchased and collection of all outstanding payments due. When families reach defined outstanding balance limits (see following chart), the family will be informed of non-school meal options to meet their child(ren)’s nutritional needs and be given a reasonable amount of time to make payment. When a family’s outstanding balance exceeds defined limits, the child(ren) of the family will not be eligible to participate in the school meal program.

However, no child will have a meal taken away from them once the meal has been served to them. This provision is put in place to avoid any public embarrassment to a child based upon the failure to act by their parent/guardian. 

Process Description

(Click here to view Meal Charge Process)

General Provisions

Meal purchases with a $0 or negative balance

• Attempts will be made to prevent students with a negative balance from charging Ala Carte food items.  Should a student attempt such a purchase:
  • the student will be reminded that the status of their family account does not allow the purchase of Ala Carte items,
  • the Ala Carte item(s) will be taken back from the student, if it is a prepackaged item and
  • as allowed under the requirements above the student will be encouraged to purchase a full meal.
    Students may purchase meals or Ala Carte items with cash regardless of a negative balance in their account.

Negative Balance at the end of the school year

• Family accounts with outstanding balances are required to be paid in full by the last day of each school year.
• Seniors must pay all accumulated charges prior to their last day of school in order to settle all outstanding unpaid financial obligations to the District in order to be in compliance for graduation.

Payment Methods

• Payments can be made online using the Infinite Campus portal 24/7 using a credit card or debit card.  The portal is easily accessible from the home page of the District website.
• Cash or check are accepted at each school or at the District Office at 1019 McHugh Road.

Families Experiencing Financial Difficulties

• Contact the Nutrition Services office at 526-1325 to make arrangements for the continuation of meal service.
• Fill out a “Free or Reduced Meals” application found here.
• Encouraged to call the Great Rivers 211 Information & Referral and Crisis Line by Dialing 211 or 1-800-362-8255.
  
  

Outstanding Balances

• An outstanding balance is in excess of $30 or an outstanding balance of any amount existing for more than 60 days.  The District reserves the right to take steps deemed necessary to collect charges owed.
• These actions could include: turning the outstanding balance over to a collection agency, small claims court, revocation of charging privileges or other actions as deemed necessary.

For more information, please contact the Nutrition Services Department.

Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.  

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

Fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

E-mail:
program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider

Statement updated: 2/14/2023