2400 - Child Nutrition and Unpaid Meal Charges - First Reading

1. PURPOSE AND PHILOSOPHY
   Weber School District is committed to providing a school environment that enhances student learning and encourages parents/guardians to ensure students receive proper nutrition during the school day. Access to nutritious meals supports student health, academic success, and overall well-being. The District participates in federal child nutrition programs administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), including the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). The District recognizes its responsibility to administer these programs in a manner that maintains student dignity, ensures equitable access, and preserves the financial integrity of the child nutrition program.
   
   
2. POLICY
   The Weber School District shall participate in available federal child nutrition programs and shall administer school meal services consistent with federal and state requirements. Because students participating in these programs may receive reimbursable meals, the District shall maintain a written unpaid meal charge policy in accordance with USDA guidance.
   District employees shall treat students with dignity and respect and shall avoid practices that overtly identify students with insufficient funds or those eligible for free or reduced-price meals. The District shall implement consistent and transparent unpaid meal practices and shall communicate procedures to school administrators, nutrition staff, families, and students.
   
   
3. DEFINITIONS
   1. “Automated Meal Payment System” means the District’s web-based system that allows parents to deposit funds into student meal accounts.
   2. “Collection Efforts” means actions taken by the District to recover unpaid meal balances, which may include use of collection agencies or other lawful methods.
   3. “Delinquent Account” means a student meal account with insufficient funds to cover meal charges.
   4. “Eligible Student” means a student enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12 who qualifies for reduced-price meals based on household size and income levels under the National School Lunch Program.
   5. “Free Meal” means a meal served at no cost to a student whose household qualifies under federal eligibility standards.
   6. “Non-Program Foods” means foods that do not meet USDA reimbursable meal requirements, including adult meals, second meals, extra milk, classroom snacks, or community event foods.
   7. “Parent” means a student’s parent, legal guardian, or individual acting in the role of parent for school purposes.
   8. “Paid Meal” means a meal served to a student whose household does not qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
   9. “Reduced-Price Meal” means a meal served to a student whose household qualifies under federal standards for reduced pricing.
   10. “Reimbursable Meal” means a meal that meets USDA requirements and may be claimed for federal reimbursement.
       
       
4. COMMUNICATION
   1. The Child Nutrition Supervisor or designee shall communicate meal charge procedures and requirements to school administrators, nutrition staff, families, and students.
   2. Communication regarding meal payments shall be directed to parents/guardians. Employees shall not request that students solicit payment from parents or remind parents to send money.
      
      
5. NON-DISCRIMINATION
   1. No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied benefits of, or subjected to discrimination under any child nutrition program on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, sexual orientation, or income.
   2. Students shall not be physically segregated or overtly identified based on inability to pay or eligibility for free or reduced-price meals.
   3. Student eligibility status shall remain confidential.
   4. No student shall be denied a reimbursable meal as a disciplinary action.
      
      
6. SCHOOL MEALS
   1. All reimbursable meals shall meet USDA nutrition standards.
   2. Meal prices for paid meals shall comply with federal Paid Lunch Equity requirements.
      
      
7. FREE AND REDUCED MEAL PRICES
   1. Families may apply for free and reduced-price meals at any time during the school year.
   2. Applications shall be available online and in paper format.
   3. Households qualifying through programs such as SNAP, TANF/FEP, or FDPIR are eligible for free meals by submitting the application.
   4. Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.
   5. Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.
   6. Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.
   7. The confidentiality of all applicants shall be maintained.
      
      
8. PAYMENTS AND NEGATIVE ACCOUNT BALANCES
   1. Parents/guardians are responsible for maintaining funds in student meal accounts.
   2. Online payment options shall be available through the District’s automated payment system.
   3. Students eligible for free meals shall receive reimbursable meals at no cost.
   4. Students eligible for reduced-price meals shall pay the reduced rate established under federal guidelines.
   5. Nutrition staff shall exercise sensitivity and confidentiality when serving students with insufficient or negative balances.
   6. Students shall not be embarrassed or denied a reimbursable meal due to insufficient funds.
   7. When a student’s account is negative, the District shall notify parents/guardians and may initiate collection efforts consistent with District procedures.
      
      
9. PROHIBITED FOOD ADDITIVES
   In accordance with Utah HB 402 and Utah Code § 53G-9-205.2, the District is dedicated to protecting student health and well-being by ensuring foods served or sold on school grounds during the school day are free from banned chemical additives and synthetic colorings.
   1. Prohibited Additives Standard
      1. Except as outlined below, beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, no school within the District may sell, donate, offer, or serve on school grounds during the school day any food or beverage item that contains any of the following restricted food additives: Potassium bromate, Propylparaben, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Blue No. 2, FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6.
      2. Exceptions:
         1. a student's parent may provide students with a food item described in above during the school day;
         2. a teacher may provide students with a food item described above if the teacher obtains permission from the students' parents at the start of each school semester;
         3. a person may sell a food item described above:
            1. as a concession item at a school-sponsored event or extra-curricular activity; or
            2. in a vending machine.
   2. Procurement and Menu Compliance
      1. The Child Nutrition Supervisor shall ensure all food procurement contracts, bidding specifications, and vendor agreements require suppliers to verify that food and beverage items supplied to the District do not contain any of the prohibited additives listed in Utah Code § 53G-9-205.2.
      2. Child Nutrition personnel shall review ingredient labels and product formulations during menu planning. Any food item identified as containing restricted additives shall be excluded from meal programs and non-program food sales.
   3. Statutory Exceptions
      1. In accordance with Utah Code § 53G-9-205.2(3), a student’s parent or legal guardian may provide food items containing specified additives directly to their own student for personal consumption during the school day.
   4. Classroom Snacks/Activities
      1. A teacher may provide food items containing specified additives to students during the school day only if parental permission has been obtained at the beginning of each semester.