The District will operate a school nutrition program in each attendance center. The school nutrition program services will include meals through participation in the National School Lunch Program and supplementary foods for students during the school day. Students may participate in the school lunch program or may bring their lunches from home and purchase milk and other incidental items at the school.
School nutrition program facilities are provided to serve students and employees when school is in session and during school-related activities. They may also be used under the supervision of the Food Service Director or designee for food service to employee groups, parent-teacher meetings, civic organizations meeting for the purpose of better understanding the schools, and senior citizens in accordance with Board policy.
The school nutrition program is operated on a non-profit basis. The revenues of the school nutrition program will be used only for paying the regular operating costs or improvements of the school nutrition program. Supplies of the school nutrition program will only be used for the school nutrition program.
The Board will set, and annually review, the prices for school nutrition programs. It is the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation regarding the prices of school nutrition programs, in accordance with federal and state law.
It is the responsibility of the Food Service Director to administer the program and to cooperate with the Superintendent and appropriate personnel for the proper functioning of the school food program.
The district shall comply with all federal and state laws and regulations required for procurement, including the selection and evaluation of contractors. The Superintendent or designee is responsible for developing an adminsitrative process to implement this policy, including, but not limited to, procedures related to suspension and debarment for transactions subject to those requirements and prohibitions on purchasing food products misbranded as meat or egg products, or cultivated-protein food products in accordance with applicable laws.
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Approved: 5/8/89 |
Reviewed: 11/11/02 |
Revised: 9/17/07; 6/10/13; 2/11/19; 10/13/25 |
Nondiscrimination Statement
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights, regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating inor 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:
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
Iowa Nondiscrimination Statement
It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 6200 Park Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50321-1270; phone number 515-281-4121 or 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.
Approved: 10/13/25 Reviewed: Revised:
Complaint Contact Information:
Name: _________________________________________________________
Street Address, City, State, Zip: ___________________________________________
County: ___________________________ Area Code/Phone: ___________________
Email Address:_________________________________________________
Complaint Information:
Specific name and location of the entity and individual delivering the service or benefit:
Describe the incident or action of the alleged discrimination or give an example of the situation that has a discriminatory effect on the public, potential program participants, or current participants:
On what basis does the complainant feel discrimination exists (race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, creed, sexual orientation, religion, political party affiliation, actual/potential parental/family/marital status)?
List the names, titles, and business addresses of persons who may have knowledge of the alleged discriminatory action:
List the date(s) during which the alleged discriminatory actions occurred, or if continuing, the duration of such actions:
Date complaint received: _______________________________
Person receiving complaint: ________________________________________
Action(s) taken:
USDA is the cognizant agency for the Child Nutrition Programs listed and therefore is the first contact for the six protected classes of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability for complaints received within 180 days. Civil rights complaints must be submitted to the USDA Office of Civil Rights within five calendar days of receipt and no later than 180 days of the discriminatory act. The link for submission of a complaint is: program.intake@usda.gov.
In Iowa, protected classes also include sexual orientation, religion or creed and complaints can be filed up to 300days of occurrence. The address for Iowa complaints is: Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 6200 Park Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50321-1270; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. 12/2021
Approved: 10/13/25 Reviewed: Revised:
USDA Child Nutrition Programs in Iowa
Procedures for Handling a Civil Rights Complaint
Civil rights complaints related to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Afterschool Care Snack Program, Summer Food Service Program, Seamless Summer Option, or Child and Adult Care Food Program are written or verbal allegations of discrimination based on USDA protected classes of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability.
Any person claiming discrimination has a right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discrimination. See below for additional Iowa Civil Rights information. A civil rights complaint based on the protected classes listed in #1 above must be forwarded to the address on the nondiscrimination statement.
All complaints, whether written or verbal, must be accepted by the School Food Authority (SFA)/Sponsor/Organization and forwarded to USDA at the address or link on the nondiscrimination statement within 5 calendar days of receipt. An anonymous complaint should be handled the same way as any other. Complaint forms may be developed, but their use cannot be required. If the complainant makes the allegations verbally or in a telephone conversation and is reluctant or refuses to put them in writing, the person who handles the complaint must document the description of the complaint.
There must be enough information to identify the agency or individual toward which the complaint is directed and indicate the possibility of a violation. Every effort should be made to obtain at least the following information:
5. The date(s) when the alleged discriminatory action(s) occurred or, if continuing, the duration of such action(s).USDA is the cognizant agency for the Child Nutrition Programs listed and therefore is the first contact for the six protected classes listed in #1 above, for complaints received within 180 days. Civil rights complaints must be submitted to the USDA Office of Civil Rights within five calendar days of receipt and no later than 180 days of the discriminatory act. The link for submission of a complaint is: program.intake@usda.gov
6. In Iowa, protected classes also include sexual orientation, religion or creed and complaints can be filed up to 300 days of occurrence. The address for Iowa complaints is: Iowa Civil Rights Commission, 6200 Park Avenue, Suite 100, Des Moines, IA 50321-1270; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.
Bureau of Nutrition and Health, IDOE, 12/2021
Approved: 10/13/25 Reviewed: Revised:
Students enrolled and attending school in the District, who are unable to afford the cost or a portion of the cost of the school lunch and/or breakfast are encouraged to apply for free or reduced school fees and school nutrition programs.
Students enrolled and attending school in the school district who meet USDA eligiblity guidelines will be provided the school nutrition program services at no cost or a reduced price. The school district shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the overt identification of students who are eligible for free and reduced price meals. Students who participate in free or reduced price meal programs will not be distinguished in any way from students who pay the regular price; great care shall be taken to protect the anonymity of these students. Their names will not be made known to any person except such staff member or members as needed to make the special arrangements for them.
The district shall at least twice annually notify all families of the availability, eligibility criteria, and application procedures for free or reduced price meals in accordance with state and federal law.
It is the responsibility of the Food Service or Business Director to determine if a student qualifies for free or reduced cost nutritional programs, in accordance with state and federal law. Students, whom the principal believes are improperly nourished, will not be denied the school nutritional program services simply because the paperwork has not been completed. If school personnel have knowledgew of a student who is in need or free or reduced-price meals, school personnel shall contact the Food Services Director or Building Administrator.
Employees, students, and others will be required to pay for meals consumed.
If a student owes moneuy for five or more meals, the Food Services Director may contact the student's parent or guardian to provide information regarding the application for free or reduced price meals. The school is encourage to provide reimbursable meals to students who request reimbursable meals unless the students' parent or guardian has specifically provided written direction to the school to withhold a meal from the student.
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Approved: 10/16/72 |
Reviewed: 11/11/02 |
Revised: 9/17/07; 6/10/13; 2/11/19; 10/13/25 |
Food served or purchased by students during the school day and food served or purchased for other than special circumstances is approved by the Superintendent or designee. Vending machines in the school building are the responsibility of the building principal. Purchases from the vending machines will reflect the guidelines in Wellness Policy 507.09.
It is the responsiblity of the Superintendent and other appointed appropriate personnel designated to develop administrative regulations for the use of vending machines and other sales of food to students.
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Approved: 10/13/25 Reviewed: Revised:
In accordance with state and federal law, the Spirit Lake Community School adopts the following policy to ensure school district employees, families, and students have a shared understanding of expectations regarding meal charges. The policy seeks to allow students to receive the nutrition they need to stay focused during the school day, prevent the overt identification of students with insufficient funds to pay for school meals, and maintain the financial integrity of the nonprofit school nutrition program.
Payment of Meals
Students have use of a meal account. When an account reaches -$50.00, the school district has the option to deny students the ability to charge anything until the negative account balance is paid and additional funds are deposited into the account. In addition, when an account has ANY negative balance, students WILL NOT be allowed to charge seconds, extra milks or a la carte items to their account. These items will need to be paid in cash until the account has a positive balance. (Families may add money to student accounts via electronic payment through Infinite Campus or send payments to the school offices.)
Students who qualify for free meals shall never be denied a reimbursable meal, even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases. Students with outstanding meal charge debt shall be allowed to purchase a meal if the student pays for the meal when it is received. The school district may provide an alternate meal that meets federal and state requirements to students who have charged the maximum allowance to the student account and cannot pay out of pocket for a meal. The district may charge $1.50 for the alternate meal.
Employees may use a charge account for meals, but may charge no more than $20.00 to this account. When an account reaches this limit, an employee shall not be allowed to charge further meals or a la carte items until the negative account balance is paid.
Negative Account Balances
The school district will make reasonable efforts to notify families when meal account balances are low. Additionally, the school district will make reasonable efforts to collect unpaid meal charges classified as delinquent debt. The school district will coordinate communications with families to resolve the matter of unpaid charges. Families will be notified of an outstanding negative balance once the negative balance reaches -$1.00. Families will be notified by an automated email every day when the balance reaches $20. Negative balances of more than $50 will be turned over to the principals or designee for collection. Options may include: collection agencies, small claims court, or any other legal method permitted by law.
Unpaid Student Meals Account
The district will establish an unpaid student meals account in the school nutrition fund. Funds from private sources and funds from the district flexibility account may be deposited into the unpaid school meals account in accordance with the law. Funds deposited into this account shall be used only to pay individual student meal debt.
Communication of the Policy
The policy and supporting information regarding meal charges shall be provided in writing to:
· All households at or before the start of each school year;
· Students and families who transfer into the district, at time of transfer; and
· All staff responsible for enforcing any aspect of the policy.
Records of how and when the policy and supporting information was communicated to households and staff will be retained. The Superintendent or designee may develop an administrative process to implement this policy.
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Approved: 6/12/17 Reviewed: 11/13/2017; 2/11/19 Revised: 11/13/17; 10/13/25