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Child Nutrition Program

The Mission of the ACS Child Nutrition Program is to provide nutritious meals to the students of Athens City Schools.
 

LUNCH NUMBERS AND LUNCH ACCOUNT

Athens City Schools uses a computerized system in the lunchrooms. This helps to expedite lunchroom lines and helps to lengthen the time your child has to eat breakfast and lunch. We utilize offer versus serve, which allow students to have different choices for each meal. Each student has an account with an assigned 4-digit number they enter or scan each time they go through the lunchroom line. Please make sure your child knows his/her 3, 4, 5 digit lunchroom number. Please make sure your child knows his/her lunch number.The following are specific details that you will need to know:
 

DEPOSITS

  • Make directly into the student’s account at the serving line.
  • Make deposits on-line through the automated payment system (please refer to the Athens City Schools website for specific details).
  • Send sibling’s money separately if your child is participating
  • If a student participates in our Free and Reduced Breakfast and Lunch Program, he/she may deposit funds into his/her account by entering his/her lunch number or online.
  • Send ala carte money in an envelope marked with your child’s name, homeroom teacher, and lunch number or pay online. See the Athens City School’s website for specific details. 
  • If you are sending a check, please write your child’s name and lunch number on the check.
  • Checks must have a phone number on them. Please do not write a check for other purchases such as field trip money, fundraisers, etc. while paying for anything in the lunchroom.
  • Only food eaten in the lunchroom can be purchased with the money you send to the lunchroom.
  • Parents may put restrictions on what and when extra food items may be purchased.
  • Any lunch balance can be requested for a refund or transfer to another lunch account in the district by the parent and/or guardian during the school year by contacting the lunchroom or central office. 
  • Any unclaimed balance remaining in a lunch account 30 days after the last day of school by a student who withdrew from the district during the school year or graduated will be moved to a CNP account and used to pay for any student lunch debt within the district. This shall not apply to unclaimed balances in CNP accounts for households that are approved for reduced price benefits, as Athens City Schools will make reasonable attempts to refund those balances.
 

NEGATIVE BALANCES

  • We will notify you or your child when your child’s account balance is depleted. 
  • Please send money the next school day to correct deficiencies or pay online anytime.
  • The Board of Education strongly discourages the charging of foods and beverages to meal accounts with negative balances.
  • Uncollected cafeteria charges constitute a bad debt and are not allowed.
  • Extra servings and a la carte purchases are not allowed when a meal account has a negative balance.
  • It is understood that the parent or guardian of any student who purchases foods and beverages from the Child Nutrition Program will provide funds through the meal account and is responsible for resolving all negative balances immediately.
 
Our primary goal is to feed our children the most nutritious meal with enough time to enjoy the meal. Students and parents are encouraged to take advantage of pre-payment and online payment options by depositing weekly or monthly amounts. The online payment option is available on your school website or www.acs-k12.org.
 
Important Information Related to Negative Balances 
  • On the last day of school, any money left in your child’s account will automatically roll over to the next school year and any negative balances MUST be  resolved.
  • Seniors will need to deplete their lunch accounts before the last day of school or resolve any debts. Any negative balances MUST be resolved.

FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEAL APPLICATION

Athens City Schools makes available the online application for Free and Reduced Price Meals. The process is SAFE, SECURE, PRIVATE, and AVAILABLE anytime, anywhere! Visit your school website for a direct link.
Application Process for Free and Reduced Meals
  • Athens City Schools encourages each family to complete an application. 
  • Applications located at each school office and Central Office or you can complete one online. 
  • Only one completed application per household is needed. 
  • List every child enrolled in the Athens City Schools System on the same application.
  • You are responsible for paying full price for all meals until the Child Nutrition Program has processed your application.
  • The application is processed as quickly as possible; however, it can take several days. 
  • Please complete your application as soon as possible and turn in immediately.
  • If your child received free or reduced meals last year, you have to complete a new application each year. 
  • You have up to thirty- days (30) from the first day of school  if you received free or reduced priced meal benefits in the previous school year to complete and submit another application. After the thirtieth (30th) day, you no longer qualify for free or reduced benefits. 
  • Athens City Schools is an equal-opportunity employer and provider.
 

WELLNESS POLICY AND SCHOOL PARTIES

In an effort to decrease the rate of childhood obesity in the United States, the USDA made changes to the National School Breakfast and Lunch Program and to the amount and types of foods and drinks allowed during the school day. These foods will be replaced with more fruits and vegetables. A lunch must include a fruit and/or vegetable along with at least two to three other items with a total of at least three food components to count as a meal. Breakfast must include a fruit or juice plus 2 components to count as a meal. Fried foods will be limited. 
 
Parties are not permitted during meal times. Contact your child’s teacher and/or principal if you would like to bring a treat for a special occasion. We are requesting parties to include some healthy alternatives along with the usual cookies, cupcakes, etc. We ask for your support as we try to develop a healthy school environment for our children. If you would like a detailed explanation of the changes mandated from the USDA, please see our web site at www.acs-k12.org.

 

 

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