Meal Charge Policy
The Trenton Public Schools District Food Services Department has an established meal charge policy in place for all students. The purpose of having a meal charging policy enables our schools to establish consistent and clear food service account procedures throughout the district. It allows the district to maintain fiscal integrity and solvency of the food service department while providing meal options that meet the nutritional needs of our students. We understand that although efforts to keep a child’s food service account in a positive standing are there, we understand that there are times where parents may forget or other unforeseen circumstances can occur. Meal charging shall be used as a temporary solution only and do not address a parent/guardian’s inability to pay. In those instances, an application for free or reduced meal benefits should be completed and turned in to the food service office. A la carte purchasing will be suspended for those accounts in the negative.
Parents with students who have a negative balance will receive an email weekly regarding the balance. Depending on the circumstances, parents may receive phone calls regarding the negative account balance. In the event of a lack of communication with the parent, building administration will be notified in an effort to help us reach you.
We will never make a child dispose of a meal due to a negative balance.
We will never speak to a child regarding a negative balance unless they ask, and we will never do so in a public way. We understand the balance is the responsibility of the parent and not the child.
We prohibit the requiring of students who cannot pay for a school meal or who owe a negative balance to wear a wristband or handstamp.
We prohibit the requiring of students who cannot pay for a school meal or who owe a negative balance to perform chores or other work to pay for school meals.
Meal Charge Policy
