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Insufficient Funds Procedure & Meal Prices

Nutrition Services offers breakfast and lunch in all of the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District schools. Our main funding source is revenue from the National School Lunch Program USDA federal funds. Nutrition Services must maintain a responsible financial approach in its operation to remain self-supporting. 

 

Insufficient Funds Procedure

Our priority is to ensure that every student is nourished and supported, while working with families in a respectful and understanding way. To help all students have access to healthy meals while also managing meal account balances responsibly, the following guidelines are in place:

  • Families are encouraged to keep a positive balance in their student’s meal account prior to purchasing breakfast and/or lunch.

  • If needed, a student’s account may go into the negative for up to the value of 5 days of breakfast and lunch meals.

    • This translates to a limit of:

      • -$40 for Full Pay elementary students

      • -$42.50 for Full Pay secondary students

      • -$2.00 for Reduced Pay students
         

  • After this limit is reached, students will not be able to continue to charge meals to their accounts; however, no student will go hungry. Schools will provide alternative food options and support.

  • No à la carte purchases if the student account has a negative balance.

  • If a student reaches the charge limit, the school front office will work directly with the family to discuss options, which may include:

    • Applying for free or reduced-price meals

    • Sending food from home

    • Using school food pantries supported by our community partners

    • Adding funds to the student’s account

Both positive and negative monetary balances on a student’s meal account at the end of the school year will automatically roll over to the new school year. A student’s account balance will also carry over if a student transfers to a different school within the district.  If parents would like to have money refunded to them, please contact your school’s kitchen manager or contact Nutrition Services at foodservice@k12northstar.org (907) 451-1004. 

First page of the PDF file: MealPricePoster

Payment Procedure: 

  • Any purchases will be debited from available account funds.
  • Prepayment can be made:
    • Credit and debit card payments accepted at SchoolCafe.com (5% third party transaction fee)
    • You can also view purchase history and set low balance reminders on SchoolCafe.com
    • As an alternative, fee free payment method, payments can be made in person (by you or sent with your child) with cash or check with your local school's kitchen manager or at our main Nutrition Service's office located at 1305 Charles st. Fairbanks Alaska, 99701. 

For information, contact your school’s kitchen manager or Nutrition Services at 451-1004 ext. 16601, or email foodservice@k12northstar.org.