Food Services
Fueling students for academic success
The Food and Nutrition Services Department supports academic achievement by providing students with nutritious meals and exceptional customer service.
Any student who is approved for free or reduced-price school meals will receive breakfast and lunch at no charge. A new application must be submitted each year, unless you already received a letter from District 196 indicating that all of your child(ren) have been approved for the current school year.
It is the vision of the Food and Nutrition Services Department to provide the opportunity for all students to meet their daily nutritional needs for meals consumed at school. We provide healthy food choices that support the district’s wellness policy.
Food and Nutrition Resources
educational benefits program application
Formerly free and reduced-price meals (A new application is needed each school year)
School Meals
There is no charge for free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch. A second full breakfast or lunch for a student is the same price as an adult breakfast and lunch. Only individual meal pricing is listed for an adult breakfast and lunch (weekly, monthly and yearly pricing is not available). Milk is included with all meals, but for additional cartons of milk or if purchased separately, it is an Ala Carte charge of 40 cents each for all eligibility levels.
For questions about your student’s meal account or balance information, please contact the food and nutrition services manager at your student’s school.
If your child has an allergy, contact the school nurse prior to the start of the school year to complete the appropriate paperwork.
Steps to take if your child has a severe allergy
- Notify school nurse of your child’s allergy
- Each year, prior to the first day of school, provide the following items to the school nurse as needed:
- Anaphylaxis Action Plan signed by the parent/guardian and physician
- If your child has asthma, an Asthma Action Plan is also recommended each year.
- List of medications
- Epinephrine must have pharmacy label attached; please check expiration dates.
- Prior Consent to Release Private Data
- If a special diet is requested, complete the Special Diet Statement signed by the parent/guardian and physician and meet with the Food and Nutrition Services Manager in your child’s school to discuss your child’s special dietary needs. Review appropriate menu item selections with your child.
- The school nurse shares information about your child’s severe allergy on a need-to-know basis with additional school staff such as teachers, clerical staff, bus drivers and other support personnel. It is, however, very helpful for you to also make contact with your child’s teachers at the start of each school year to inform them of your child’s severe allergy and to answer any specific questions and address any concerns they may have.
- Contact the coordinators of your child’s before- and after-school, non-school-sponsored activities such as School-Age Care (SAC), Camp Invention, etc. These activities may take place when the school nurse is not available.
Anaphylaxis is a serious and potentially life threatening allergic reaction that is rapid in onset. DO NOT HESITATE to give Epinephrine.