Food Service
Fueling students for academic success
The Food and Nutrition Services Department supports academic achievement by providing students with nutritious meals and exceptional customer service.
Any student who is approved for free or reduced-price school meals will receive breakfast and lunch at no charge. A new application must be submitted each year, unless you already received a letter from District 196 indicating that all of your child(ren) have been approved for the current school year.
It is the vision of the Food and Nutrition Services Department to provide the opportunity for all students to meet their daily nutritional needs for meals consumed at school. We provide healthy food choices that support the district’s wellness policy.
Food and Nutrition Resources
educational benefits program application
Formerly free and reduced-price meals (A new application is needed each school year)
School Meals
There is no charge for free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch. A second full breakfast or lunch for a student is the same price as an adult breakfast and lunch. Only individual meal pricing is listed for an adult breakfast and lunch (weekly, monthly and yearly pricing is not available). Milk is included with all meals, but for additional cartons of milk or if purchased separately, it is an Ala Carte charge of 40 cents each for all eligibility levels.
For questions about your student’s meal account or balance information, please contact the food and nutrition services manager at your student’s school.
Please notify your school nurse about any allergies your child has, especially life-threatening allergies, so they can work with you to obtain emergency medication and/or emergency care plans.
- While we can’t eliminate allergens from school completely, our school nurses can reduce risk and harm by collaborating with staff to educate and create awareness.
- The school nurse shares information and provides training regarding your child’s severe allergy and emergency medication on a need-to-know basis with additional school staff such as teachers, clerical staff, bus drivers and other support personnel. It is, however, very helpful for you to also make contact with your child’s teachers at the start of each school year to inform them of your child’s severe allergy and to answer any specific questions and address any concerns they may have.
- Reasonable meal substitutions are considered on a case-by-case basis for students who are considered to have a disability that restricts their diet. Review District 196 Regulation 710.2.4AR Meal Substitution Requests for more information. A signed special diet statement must be completed by the parent/guardian and health care provider and submitted to the school nurse for meal substitutions to be considered.
- Consider meeting with your school nurse and connect with the Nutrition Services Manager in your child’s school to discuss your child’s special dietary needs. Review appropriate menu item selections with your child.
- Contact the coordinators of your child’s before- and after-school, non-school-sponsored activities such as School-Age Care (SAC), Camp Invention, etc. These activities may take place when the school nurse is not available.