Meal Accounts & Payments

The state’s Free School Meals program begins the 2023-24 school year. Every K-12 student may receive one breakfast and one lunch at no cost during the school year. Minnesota’s Free School Meals program and federal funding will cover the cost of breakfast and lunch for in-person students in kindergarten through grade 12, as well as for pre-kindergarten students who attend elementary schools.

Families will still need to submit an application for educational benefits, now called the Alternate Application for Educational Benefits, to receive additional benefits.

Apply for Educational Benefits

All families are encouraged to submit an Alternate Application for Educational Benefits to determine if students qualify to receive reduced or waived athletic and activities fees, reduced transportation fees, discounts on internet service, emergency food benefits, and more.

The application is also available in school buildings. Families will be notified whether or not they qualify for benefits. Until an application is approved and notice has been received, parents/guardians are responsible for providing meals from home or money for school meals.

Make a Payment

All food, beverage, and meals are to be pre-paid before service begins. Once a student's meal account falls below $0 (zero dollars), we will follow the Student Unpaid Meal Charges Procedure. We are committed to ensuring all students can succeed at school, therefore we will not deny a student a meal, even if their meal account is below $0.

Pay Online

Depositing money into accounts is best accomplished using PayPAMS. It takes between 24 and 72 hours to get funds into the student account at the school. There is no fee to parents/guardians for using the online payment system.

Pay by Check

Checks may also be sent to school with your student and placed in the check deposit box or given to the Food Service Manager. Checks should be made out to ISD 191 Food Service. Please write the name of the student and their PIN on the memo line of your check. Cash may also be sent with your student, however, we discourage this practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon will my payment be added to my account?

How will I know what my account balance is?

You can see your meal account balance at any time on the PayPAMS online payment system. Students may also ask for their balance from a food and nutrition employee at their school.

You can choose to receive an e-mail alert when your account balance reaches a specific level that you set. If you have more than one student on your PayPAMS account, you may set specific alerts for each student.

Can I see previous payments made?

Can I transfer money between students?

Money may be transferred from one student's account to another using PayPAMS or by contacting the district Food and Nutrition Services department at 952-707-2051. However, if you want to transfer funds from your student's account to a student who is not your child, you must submit that request by clicking on the button below and filling out the form.

Transfer/Donate money to another account

How do I request a refund?

If money is left in an account upon graduation, or a student moves out of the district, a refund can be issued by sending a written request (with your signature) to:

District Food and Nutrition Services
200 W Burnsville Parkway
Burnsville, MN 55337

At the end of each school year, we will attempt to automatically transfer funds from graduating students to siblings, if the siblings are attending school in the district. Refunds will only be issued in amounts of $10.00 or greater. Adults may request refunds if they are leaving the district and the account has $10.00 or greater.

Money may also be donated to a general fund. Contact Food & Nutrition Services at 952-707-2051.

Request a refund

Balance Reminders

Students may inquire about their balance from Food Service employees or cash kiosks. Food Service employees will discreetly communicate the meal account balance to a student when requested. Written reminders in multiple languages will be made available in serving areas and cash kiosks for students. Parents/Guardians may inquire about their student’s meal account balance by contacting the Food and Nutrition Services department.

In PayPAMS, parents may set up email notifications for when a student’s meal account reaches a specific amount. The alert amount may be changed by parents/guardians at any time. District Food and Nutrition Services or designees will attempt to notify parents/guardians of negative balances using contact information from the district student record. To the extent possible, notifications will be translated into multiple languages.

No student in the serving line will be denied a meal. If a student’s account does not have enough money to pay for a breakfast and/or lunch, a student will be allowed to purchase a meal, which will cause the account balance to become negative. All students will be provided a meal regardless of their account balance. While the district is under no legal obligation to do so, we believe this is in the best interest of the student. Parents/Guardians are still responsible for meal charges incurred.

Accounts must contain the necessary amount needed to cover the full cost of a la carte purchases, which means a single food or beverage item. Parents must complete a written request form to limit student a la carte purchases. The A La Carte Purchase Limit Request form is available at http://www.isd191.org/district-191-services-and-departments/food-service/meal-prices . We encourage parents to first discuss with students, what they are allowed or not allowed to purchase, before considering placing restrictions on the account. Limits are discouraged because they cause delays during serving times.

Unpaid Meal Account Process

STEP 1

If your student's meal account runs out of money and falls below $0 (zero dollars), we will attempt to let you know with phone calls, text messages and/or emails. This may include adding an email alert to your student’s PayPAMS account. Please have your current contact information on district record. You can do this online through ParentVUE or by contacting your child's school.

STEP 2

If your student's meal account continues to fall further below negative $20 (twenty dollars), we will take other actions to contact you and try to collect the debt. This may include sending letters to the home address on record.

STEP 3

If your student's meal account continues to fall further below negative $50 (fifty dollars) or a household of 2 or more students falls below negative $100 (one hundred dollars) we will take other actions to contact you and try to collect the debt. This may include sending final letters to the home address on record.

STEP 4

If your student’s meal account falls below negative $50 (fifty dollars) or more, or a household of 2 or more students falls below negative $100 (one hundred dollars), and there is no response from the parent/guardian within 14 days after a final notification is sent, the parent/guardian name on the account and amount owed at the present time will be sent to a collection agency. We are willing to work with you on a payment plan which may avoid the involvement of a collection agency. Contact Food and Nutrition Services to discuss payment plan options.

Accounts will be reviewed on a quarterly basis or more frequently as necessary and action will be taken based on the specific circumstances related to the account. Any negative balance that exists on an account for more than 60 days may result in a Step 3 response.

All notifications and communication efforts will be documented and made available for audit purposes. Principals, social workers, guidance counselors, cultural liaisons, or other designated school individuals or resources may assist in facilitating the understanding of the parent/guardian as requested by the Food Service Manager.

Donations will be accepted and directed to general or specific accounts, upon request. All donations will be processed at the district level. More details about the handling of unpaid student meal charges is by contacting Food and Nutrition Services at 952-707-2051.

Read section IV of District 191 School Meals Policy 534 for information regarding unpaid meal charges.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Contact Us

AMY TERWILLIGER

ACE L4 ADMIN ASST/SPECIALIST

School Meals

Learn about nutritional information and meal pricing.

Meal Pricing Info

PIN Pads

When a student registers in District 191, the Food and Nutrition Services department creates a meal account for the student with a unique personal identification number (PIN). The student enters this PIN into a keypad at the cashier station in the cafeteria to pay for meals and a la carte foods and beverages. Students keep the same PIN from year to year while enrolled in the district.

Practice using a PIN Pad for school meals.

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