Food Services

All students in the Upper Scioto Valley School District, from pre-K through 12th grade, will receive free breakfast and lunch each day of the school year. Every student, regardless of family income level, will receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at no charge each day. 

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

A la carte items will still be available for purchase starting at grade one. Students must pay for these items with cash, check or the pre-paid balance on their Payschools Central account.

Adult lunches are $5.00 with breakfast priced a la carte for the 2025-2026 school year.

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

 

For questions or more information on this program, contact Director of Food Services Emily Harpster at eharpster@usvschools.org 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.

 

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! 

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 USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.