In July 2009 the district constructed a Nutrition Services Center that encompasses the nutrition services administrative office, the new central kitchen production facilities, and nutrition services supplies warehouse located next to the Facilities Management Department (FMD).

Nutrition Services Center
1305 Charles Street
Fairbanks, AK 99701

Charles Street runs east & west off Illinois street.

• If you are heading north on Illinois from Cushman Street towards Minnie Street, take a left at the Sourdough Fuel Bulk station.
• If you are heading south on Illinois between College Road and Minnie Street, take a right at the Sourdough Fuel Bulk station.

Charles Street turns into a dirt road. There are two stop signs on Charles Street. Nutrition Services Center is .5 miles at the end of the road. There is a large sign at the end of the road:

• Telephone:  451-1004.
• The general information is ext. 1 or 2
• You may also dail ext. 16600 or 16601.
• Our department will have new extensions in the 166** series.

Let's Move, in association with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is challenging school nutrition professionals, chefs, students, parents and interested community members to create tasty, helathy, exciting new recipes for inclusion on school lunch menus across the country.  Deadline to enter is 5:00 p.m. EST on December 30, 2010.

For more  information & contest details visit http://www.recipesforkidschallenge.com

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 was signed by President Obama in December 2010. This legislation requires many changes to the National School Lunch Program regulations, one of which is directly related to the price that must be paid by those students who do not qualify to receive meals at the free or reduced price rates. Section 205, Equity in School Lunch Pricing, requires school districts to “…ensure that schools are providing the same level of support for lunches served to students who are not eligible for free or reduced price lunches (i.e. paid lunches) as they are for lunches served to students eligible for free lunches.”  In plain language, this requires school districts to generate in local revenue from a paid lunch the same amount of money that the school districts receive in federal reimbursement for a free lunch.

In addition to this legislative requirement, we have seen a dramatic rise in food prices and will continue to do so over the next several years due to increasing transportation costs and the new meal requirements the United States Department of Agriculture will implement beginning July 1, 2012.   We continue to dedicate ourselves to providing quality nutritious meals that the students want to consume and are diligently watching the markets and doing what we can to control our costs.

Our students are our greatest resource. It is our responsibility to provide students with choices that mirror those they will be making outside of school and a solid foundation in moderation and balance.

Full Pay Meal Prices

• $2.00  Elementary Breakfast
• $3.50  Elementary Lunch 
• $2.25  Secondary Breakfast
• $3.75  Secondary Lunch
• $3.75  Visitor or Non-Student Breakfast
• $5.50  Visitor or Non-Student Lunch
• .60 cents for milk at elementary and secondary schools

Welcome to the 2012-13 School Year!   We look forward to a great year and have information that will be helpful to you.

This fall, Fairbanks North Star Borough School District Nutrition Services are meeting tough new federal nutrition standards for school meals, ensuring that meals continue to be healthy, well-balanced, and provide students the nutrition they need to succeed at school. The USDA has issued new regulations impacting the National School Lunch & Breakfast Programs to align them with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. This requires schools to increase fruits, vegetables, & whole grains; reduce sodium, saturated fat & trans fat; and meet nutrition needs of school children with calorie requirements.” (7 CRF Parts 201 & 220, 01/26/2012)

School meals offer students milk, fruits and vegetables, protein and grains, while meeting strict limits on saturated fat and portion size. Starting this fall, school lunches will meet additional standards requiring:
• Larger servings of vegetables and fruits (students MUST take at least one serving)
• A variety of fresh, frozen, and canned fruits and vegetables
• Fat-free or 1% milk (All the milk we serve is fat-free and the chocolate has reduced sugar)
• Increase the amount of whole grains offered
• And less sodium

Entering the lunch room can be an overwhelming experience for new and young elementary students, and all students may need a refresher in the meal selection procedures. Please review the lunch menu and the colored stars on the left with your student(s) so they have a good understanding of their lunch choices.

We are always working to offer our students healthier and tastier choices. In addition to meeting new nutrition standards, we are continuing to produce fresh baked dinner rolls and sandwich buns. This year we are incorporating Alaskan grown and milled barley flour into those recipes. In addition we are purchasing Alaska grown cabbage for our cole slaw (as supply allows).

School meals are a great value and a huge convenience for busy families. Full elementary price breakfast is $2.00 and lunch is $3.50. Middle and high school price breakfast is $2.25 and lunch is $3.75. If your child qualifies to receive meals at the reduced price, breakfast is free and lunch is $.40. Milk is $.60. Free and reduce price meal benefits do not extend to additional milk or milk only purchases or partial meal purchases. All portions of a meal can be purchased by paying the ala carte prices. Milk comes with breakfast and lunch but if your child purchases additional milk with his/her meal or one to drink with his/her cold lunch, the cost is $.60.

Once students are enrolled and assigned their student ID #, we receive that information and an account is created for when they wish to eat at school. Payment for meals is expected prior to or at the time of purchase. Our goal is to nourish our students so they are prepared to learn. In an effort to do so, elementary students are allowed loans up to the value of two lunches, after which time if funds are not provided, we will provide your child with a cold pack for up to three (3) days. There are no loans available for middle and high school students however there are other options available, please see the kitchen manager for further details. We encourage families to submit a Free and Reduced Meal application if necessary.

Prepayment can be made online at www.ParentOnline.net. The service allows you to make payments, view your child’s purchase history, and set up a low balance email reminder. If you chose to pay online, ParentOnline.net charges a 5% vendor transaction fee which the district does not receive. All other features are free to use. You can also send money with your child to school. We encourage you to write a check. Any money received in excess of that day’s meal cost will be credited to the account and used for future meal purchases or to clear any negative balance due to a loan.

If your child received free or reduced price meal benefits last school year and were enrolled on the last day of school, the grace period will expire on October 3, 2012. On October 4, 2012, students receiving meal benefits due to the grace period will revert to full pay status. You have the convenience of the online submittal process for the meals application. This allows you to complete the application, worry-free, without leaving home. Submit a completed meals application for the 2012-2013 school year as soon as possible as it can take up to ten (10) days for application processing.

To find out more about the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District ‘s healthy school meals, the online application link, and applications are available at www.k12northstar.org. If you have questions please contact Nutrition Services department office located at 1305 Charles Street, Fairbanks, phone number is 451-1004 ext. 16600.

Alaska Grown products utilized when possible!