Questions and Answers


Effective Monday, November 2, 2020

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of Agriculture announced a flexibility that will allow Bellville ISD to operate a summer meal program for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year in light of the economic impact of COVID 19. Beginning November 2nd, district participation in the summer meal program will enable all children (enrolled and not enrolled) ages 1-18 to be eligible to receive ONE  free breakfast and lunch daily.  

 

·  Meals obtained in the cafeteria line will be rung up under the students account at no charge. Students will still need to have their ID cards in the lunch line.

 

·   A la carte items and extra meals will still be charged on the student’s lunch account ONLY if there is money on his/her account.

 

·  Curbside meal service will continue to take place daily between 12:00pm and 1:00pm at Bellville High School

 

o Remote learners will NOT need to be present in the vehicle to pick up their meal. A parent or guardian must bring the student’s ID card to obtain the student meal.

 

o If a child is not enrolled in the district the child will need to be present in the car or a birth certificate for that child will need to be presented. 

 

If parents or students have questions, they are encouraged to call the Child Nutrition Department at 979-865-7017 or click HERE for FAQ's

District Meal Charge Policy

Questions


1)

Q

How can I put money on my child's account?

A

Pre-paying for breakfast, lunch and a la carte items is efficient, safe and easy. You may pay by check or cash in the cafeteria. If paying in the cafeteria, it is best if your child brings the money to the cafeteria prior to the first lunch service. If paying by check, please include the student's name and account number in the memo field of the check. If paying by cash, it is best when sent in a sealed envelope with the same information written on the envelope. We strongly recommend using a check so it can be tracked if lost or stolen.

 

2)

Q

What is my child's account number and will it remain the same every year?

A

Students will have the same account number every year which is their six digit student ID number.

 

3)

Q

Can I get a print out of what my student has eaten and how can I limit a la carte purchases daily?

A

Meals can be tracked through our computer system and we can print what your child has eaten and deposited from the first day of school. A la carte purchases can be limited to a dollar amount or restricted altogether if needed. Please contact your school cafeteria manager or the Child Nutrition Department to obtain a A La Carte Limit Request Form.

 

4)

Q

What happens to my child's money at the end of the school year?

A

If your child has money in their account at the end of the school year, it will be there when the new year starts even if the child attends another campus.

 

5)

Q

I am moving out of the district and my child has money in their account, how can I get a refund?

A

You can fill out a Lunch Account Refund Request form by contacting the Child Nutrition Department or from your child/children’s campus. We will process a check and mail it to you.

 

6)

Q

Why are visitors, staff and faculty required to pay more for meals than the students?

A

Meal Pricing is based on cost and production of the food served. Adult and staff pricing is not eligible for State or Federal reimbursement, therefore must be charged at full price. Child Nutrition Pricing for adults is based on USDA rules called paid lunch equity. Paid lunch equity requires adult meals to be priced higher than the Federal Reimbursement rate for free meals plus the value of the commodity donation given to school for providing reimbursable meals.

 

7)

Q

Is there an alternate beverage provided if my child is allergic to milk?

A

If a child is allergic to milk, fruit juice or water can be substituted, provided parents have submitted a "statement from a recognized medial authority." The medical authority can be a doctor, nurse, or a physician's assistant.

 

8)

Q

How do I apply for free or reduced meals?

A

You can apply online 24/7 starting in July.  Paper applications are available at the Child Nutrition Department and/or at your child's school but are discouraged due to the potential for loss, inaccurate information, and the time that is takes for processing. 

 

9)

Q

Are the school meals high in fat, sodium and calories?

A

The Bellville ISD Food Service department plans meals according to the USDA guidelines to provide 1/3 of the student's recommended dietary allowances and contain no more than 30 percent calories from fat and no more than 10 percent calories from saturated fat averaged over a week. A computer program analyzes all the menus.

Food items provided such as chicken nuggets, pizza and hamburgers are specified to contain limited amounts of fat and sodium. The nutrient content is different than those sold in local fast food restaurants and these products are specially made for school nutrition programs.

 

10)

Q

What exactly are the regulations that the Nutrition Department follows for school meals?

A

The Texas Nutrition Policy that was created by the Texas Department of Agriculture can be downloaded and viewed atwww.squaremeals.orgClick on the Texas Publish School Nutrition Policy. BISD has made many changes to be in compliance with this new policy already.


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