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Child Nutrition Program

 

CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM

Our mission is to provide affordable and nutritious meals to students of Athens City Schools.
 
Lunch Numbers and Lunch Account
Athens City Schools uses a computerized system in the lunchrooms. This helps to expedite lines and helps to lengthen the time your child has to eat breakfast and lunch. We utilize offer versus serve, which allows students to have different choices for each meal. Each student has an account with an assigned 3, 4, or 5 digit number they enter or scan each time they go through the lunchroom line. Please make sure your child knows his/her lunch number. The following are specific details that you will need to know:
 
Deposits
  • Make deposits directly into the student’s account at the serving line, or
  • Make deposits online through the automated payment system or pay online (please refer to the Athens City School’s 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. Check must include a phone number. Please do not write a check for other purchases such as field trip money, fundraiser, 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 may be purchased.
Negative Balance
  • We will notify you or your child when your child’s account balance is depleted.
  • You may register for a free online lunch account. This allows you to monitor your child’s lunch account and make payment for small charges.
  • Please send money the next school day to correct deficiencies or pay online anytime.
  • When paying with cash please submit the correct amount. Schools do not keep change.
  • The Board of Education strongly discourages the charging of food and beverages to meal accounts with negative balance.
  • 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 food 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: 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.
 
  • 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.
 
Free and Reduced Price Meal Application
Athens City Schools makes available the online application for Free and Reduced Price Meals online! 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 online.
  • Only one completed application per household is needed.
  • List every child enrolled in the Athens City Schools on the same 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 are no longer qualified for free or reduced benefits.
 

2025-2026 Grades PreK-5 Student Parent Handbook Quick Links