Meal Accounts & Payments

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.

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.