Food and Nutrition

Food and Nutrition

FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH

All students in the Upper Scioto Valley School District, from pre-K through 12, will receive free breakfast and lunch each day of the school year. Every student, regardless of family income level, in every district school building will receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at no charge each day. Students receive high-quality meals provided by AVI Fresh, the district’s food service partner.

Families do not need to submit Free and Reduced Lunch applications.

A la carte items will still be available for purchase at the high school and middle schools. Students must pay for these items with cash, check or the pre-paid balance on their Payschools Central account.

Students will not be able to “charge” for a la carte items.

For questions or more information on this new program, contact Director of Food Services Emily Harpster at [email protected] or (419)757-3231 ext. 1129

Why is the USV District eligible to provide free breakfast and lunch?
The district participates in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program and previously accepted Free and Reduced Lunch applications to determine eligibility. Now, USV is able to provide this new service, cost-free to the district, through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), which is a provision from the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.

CEP is a nationwide program that eliminates the burden of collecting household applications to determine eligibility for school meals, relying instead on information from other means-tested programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Medicaid.

How long will this program be available? 
The district is eligible to provide free breakfast and lunch for students for a period of four years (through the 2027-2028 school year) before being reevaluated.

Are a la carte items still available?
Yes, a la carte items are available for purchase at the high school and middle schools. Students must pay for these items with cash, check or the pre-paid balance on their Payschools Central account.

Can my student “charge” a la carte items?
No. Students will not be permitted to purchase a la carte items without the correct payment.

Do I still need to submit a Free and Reduced Lunch application?
No. Those applications are no longer needed.

I have a balance on my Payschools account from last year. What happens to that money?
The balance can be used to make purchases this school year.
We've Upgraded!
A simple switch from PayForIt to PaySchools Central now allows parents & guardians to manage all your children’s accounts and fees in one place! 
-Set up auto-replenish to automatically refill lunch accounts when they’re running low
-Set up reminders and alerts
-Review your children’s purchases
-Handle payments 24/7, at your convenience, on any device
There's even an app for it, to offer more convenience!
PaySchools Central   <--- CLICK HERE!

*Anyone who previously had a PayForIt account can use that login for PaySchools Central.
Breakfast served daily FREE to all students K-12!!
We offer a variety of cereals, breakfast bars, muffins, fruit cups, juice and milk.
PLEASE encourage your child to eat breakfast at school.
 It's a great start to their day! 

Online Menu

Due to the shortages and other issues with shipping and delivery this year, the online menu may not be accurate on certain days. This menu is made months in advance. A paper menu is made each month and is available upon request by calling 419-757-3231, ext. 1129.  This tends to be more accurate but still may change without notice due to the circumstances. 
 Your understanding and patience is appreciated.  

Schools are facing the same challenges many grocery stores and other places are having with getting all the food and supplies they need. When this happens, we are doing everything we can to serve healthy meals to your child. Sometimes that means needing to swap out some foods for others because some foods are easier to get. Please be patient with us as we truly are striving to serve our kids. We are committed to making sure our kids get the healthy meals they depend on during this challenging time.

School meals have to meet strong nutrition standards, and schools are continuing to work hard to serve students the nutritious, delicious meals they need to learn and grow.

Lunch Charging Policy

Charges are designed to cover a situation in which parents or students forget to provide or bring monies for lunch. Students who have forgotten or lost money may charge meals in the cafeteria. No ala-carte items are allowed to be charged. A verbal reminder is given to the student when his/her lunch account is low. Once your child has reached the charge limit, money must be sent in to pay the charges. If, at the end of the school year, there are remaining charges on the students account they will be transferred to the students school fee balance as an unforgivable fee. An envelope or letter will be sent home with your child notifying you of the negative balance. If you are experiencing financial difficulties or have any questions regarding your child's lunch account, please call 419-757-3231, ext. 1129.

Food Allergies & Disabilities

In order to provide a safe environment for your child at school, we need a letter from your child's physician regarding his/her food disability. The letter should include the following:

*Child's allergy or food restriction
*Reaction caused by the allergy or food
*Food or foods to be omitted from the child's diet, and the food or choice of foods that must be substituted.

This letter will need to be updated and submitted each school year.

USDA regulations require substitutions or modification in school meals for children whose disabilities (or severe food allergies) restrict their diets. A child with a disability must be provided substitutions in foods when that need is supported by a statement signed by a licensed physician.

When a child has submitted a physician's letter, the information is entered into the computer. This enables the Food Service Director to plan an alternative lunch for those with allergies prior to the lunch period. It also alerts cafeteria workers to the need for an alternative food or lunch.

Many of the students with food allergies pack their lunches daily to avoid the problem of a reaction; however, should your child be purchasing his/her lunch in the cafeteria it is important that we have a letter on file, notifying us of a food allergy/disability.

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:

  1. mail:
    U.S. Department of Agriculture
    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
    1400 Independence Avenue, SW
    Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. fax:
    (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. email:
    [email protected]

 

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

06/17/2022
Emily Harpster
Director of Food Services
(419)757-3231 x1129
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