Policy Overview:
The Ozark School District Nutrition Services Department provides alternate (courtesy) meals to students whose meal account balance reaches a negative $20.00 or more.
Important:
Students who have been approved for free meals are exempt from receiving alternate meals,
regardless of account balance, per federal guidelines.
Meal Components:
● Alternate Breakfast includes:
o Muffin or breakfast cake
o Fruit
o Carton of milk
● Alternate Lunch includes:
o Cheese sandwich or grilled cheese
o Fruit and vegetable
o Carton of milk
Distribution Procedures:
Grades K–7:
● Breakfast:
o Distributed in line on a tray by the kitchen manager.
● Lunch:
o The student’s name and teacher will be written on a bag.
o The meal will be taken to the school office for distribution.
Junior High & High School (JH & HS):
● Meals are distributed by the kitchen manager.
● If a student with a negative balance comes through the line with a tray:
o Be discreet and respectful.
o Politely ask the student to return to the kitchen to speak with the manager.
o The manager will privately explain that a courtesy meal is being provided and request
the student exchange their tray.
o Never discard the original food in front of the student.
District Staff Charging Policy:
● District staff may charge meals up to a negative balance of $20.00.
● No alternate meals are provided to staff.
● Staff may not charge beyond a -$20.00 balance.
● When a staff member’s account reaches - $10.00, notify the Nutrition Office.
o The Nutrition Office will contact the staff member to inform them of their balance
and encourage payment.
● Penmac substitutes and district substitutes are not allowed to charge meals under any
circumstances.
● Unpaid staff charges will be automatically deducted from payroll:
o Deductions will occur from January and June paychecks, or
o From the final paycheck if the staff member is no longer employed at that time.
Daily Operating Procedures:
1. Post Deposits:
o Ensure all meal account deposits are posted daily.
2. Notify Parents:
o Call parents/guardians of students with balances of -$20.00 or more.
o Inform them of the charge limit and that alternate meals will be provided until the
balance is under the limit.
3. Notify Director:
o When a student reaches the charge limit, inform the Nutrition Services Director.
o The director will contact the family to reiterate the situation.
4. Ring Meals Correctly:
o All alternate meals must be rung up as a meal in the point-of-sale system.
5. Principal Notification:
o After a student receives 10 alternate meals, the building principal will be notified for
follow-up.
6. Staff Account Monitoring:
o Notify the Nutrition Office when a district staff member reaches - $10.00.
o The office will follow up with the staff member.
o Unpaid charges will be deducted from January and June paychecks or the final
available paycheck.
Reminders:
● Students approved for free meals must never receive alternate meals.
● Staff may not charge beyond -$20.00 and do not receive alternate meals.
● Substitute staff are not permitted to charge meals.
● Unpaid staff charges are subject to automatic payroll deduction.
