School Meals

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.

One91 Virtual Academy students are not eligible. Students will still need to have money in their meal account to purchase additional meals or a la carte items. Meals for adults and second meals for students cost $2.50 for breakfast and $5.25 for lunch. 

Add money to your account

One carton of milk is included in the meal price.  Prices are subject to change, per school board approval and state and federal regulations. Federal regulations require meals to be priced as a complete unit and students must pay the full price even when they choose the minimum of foods offered. In addition, if students take less than the required number of items, they will not receive the meal price, but will be charged individually (a la carte) for each item.

Food and Nutrition Services is a self-supporting department and their budget is separate from the general fund. Any revenue generated covers the cost of food, equipment and labor to produce and serve the meals. No funds are received from city or state taxes or from the funds used to educate students.

A la carte foods and beverages, which means a single food or beverage item, may be available for purchase. Prices and selection of items vary throughout the year and are posted in the school kitchen and on the website. Meal accounts must contain the amount needed to cover the cost of a la carte purchases.

Students may purchase a la carte items using his/her pre-paid meal account, unless a parent/guardian completes the A La Carte Purchase Limit Request form and submits this to the district Food and Nutrition Services office. We encourage parents to discuss with students, what is allowed or not allowed to purchase using their meal account. Limits on accounts are discouraged as they cause delays during serving times. Purchases cannot be denied if student use cash to make purchases.

A la carte foods and beverages are available for sale at all schools. If and when they are made available, prices will be as shown in the links below.

A La Carte Prices:

• Elementary A La Carte Prices
• Middle School A La Carte Prices
• High School A La Carte Prices
• A La Carte Purchase Limit Request Form

The Food and Nutrition Services Department may honor dietary restrictions due to allergies or intolerances with the proper documentation from a medical authority on file. A suitable alternative will be provided when possible. For students with a lactose intolerance, a lactose reduced milk product will be provided at no extra charge on the written request of the parent or physician. Please contact the building nurse or the Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition Services if you have questions or concerns.

Special Dietary Needs Form

Note:  It may take several weeks to prepare an individualized meal plan with a completed special diet statement.  Parents/Guardians are responsible to provide meals from home for their student until a completed meal plan is in place. The Assistant Food Service Director, or  designee, will contact the parent/guardian with the proposed completed meal plan and anticipated start date. The school food service manager will contact with the parent/guardian with the actual start date.

• Special Dietary Statement
• Declaración de Dieta Especial
• Allergen Free Parent Notice

Offer vs. Serve (OVS) federal regulations help minimize food waste. This requires students be offered (rather than served) required food components and gives students a choice to take all or a minimum number of items. Students must take a minimum of a 1/2 cup of fruit or vegetable or 1/4 cup of each with lunch; and a minimum of a 1/2 cup of fruit or 4 oz. juice with breakfast. Students are encouraged to take all food items offered as it provides a balanced meal for the best value. Products have been prepared in district kitchens or food production areas where milk, eggs, soy beans, tree nuts and peanuts are used. If you have questions about specific food products, please contact the kitchen manager where your student attends or the district food service office.