Purchasing Lunch

The School Lunch Program has implemented a computerized debit system. Students can either pay cash for meals at the end of the serving line or deduct payment from an established lunch account.

The system allows your child to enter his or her personal identification number (PIN) to access his or her account. Your child's PIN number will stay the same while with Cheshire Public Schools.

All students will have an established debit account, although advanced payments are not required.

Students will input their PIN number into the system regardless of their meal status: paid, free, or reduced, or whether they have money on account or are paying cash.

To help prevent mistakes and fraudulent use of student accounts, a digital image of your child will appear on the monitor for the cashier to view every time your child accesses his or her account. The only information displayed on the monitor is the student's name, homeroom, grade, account balance, dietary restrictions and picture.

Meals will only be deducted when the student uses his or her account. Cashiers will have pre-printed envelopes available to be used when making advanced payments. Fill out the information on the outside of the envelope, enclose payment, and return the envelope with payment to the cafeteria in the morning. When account balances reach below five dollars, the cashier will remind the student by providing him or her with a preprinted envelope. (Students paying cash daily for meals can hand the cashier payment at the end of the serving line.)

Please note that we will be unable to make refunds with this system. However, balances as of June 30th will be carried over to the next school year.

Advanced Payment Options - Elementary Schools

Only meals may be purchased in advance. Your son or daughter will need to pay cash for a la carte items such as low fat milk, reduced fat and low sugar ice cream, cookies, etc. being purchased. Any number of meals may be prepaid at one time.

Advanced Payment Options - Middle and High School

OPTION #1: CASH ON ACCOUNT

Funds are deposited into your child's debit account and available to your child when purchasing lunch and/or a la carte foods in the cafeteria. There are no limitations as to what may be purchased or how many purchases can be made. The account balance simply decreases as purchases take place.

You may deposit money by sending your child in with a check made payable to CPS or Cheshire Public Schools.

Or you may set up an user id and password with www.MySchoolBucks.com and deposit money online.

OPTION #2: PREPAID MEALS

Monies put on account are designated for student meals only. Your child would need to pay cash for any snack or a la carte items being purchased. Any number of prepaid meals may be put on account at any time.
OPTION #3: PREPAID MEALS
AND CASH ON ACCOUNT

This option ensures that your child receives a lunch and allows him or her to purchase a la carte foods as well. There are no limitations as to what foods may be purchased a la carte, or how many a la carte purchases can be made. When making a payment for both, please state clearly how much money is for prepaid meals and how much is for "cash on account".

Breakfast is offered at all schools except Chapman and Darcey.  Cheshire High School offers breakfast in two locations, in the cafeteria and in the Library.  At Dodd Middle school and elementary schools breakfast is Grab N Go and eaten in the classroom during homeroom or attendance taking.

Breakfast is $2.25 at CHS and Dodd, $2.00 at the elementary level. Free breakfast is available for free eligible students.  Reduced breakfast is $.30.       8 oz milk is $.75.

Federal and state reimbursements and government commodities help to offset the cost of lunches for students.

A la Carte prices are set to encourage students to buy a breakfast--the best nutritional buy.

No reimbursement is received for adult lunches, and prices are therefore slightly higher for adults.

Prices are set by the Board of Education and are adjusted occasionally to reflect fluctuating costs and federal/state subsidies.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.