As families prepare to return to school for the 2022-23 school year, the following are helpful Food Service reminders.

• U.S. Congress has discontinued school meal funding, which has provided free breakfast and lunch for the past two years. In the 2022-23 school year, families will pay for meals based on their eligibility status.
• Families wishing to receive free or reduced meal benefits (including waived enrollment fees) must apply for benefits using the 2022-23 Free and Reduced Application.
• • Click here to view instructions to complete the online application in Skyward Family Access.
  • A paper application is also available online by clicking here or at any school building once they reopen for the 2022-23 school year.
• Download our menu app by clicking here, and view menus by clicking here.
• Visit the Food Service webpage to view meal prices.
• Meal Payment Policy from the Student Handbook: Households are encouraged to deposit money into meal accounts in advance of meal service via the online payment system in Skyward Family Access. Payments also can be made in person at schools once they reopen for the school year via cash, check, or credit card.

Automatic phone calls and emails notify parents and guardians daily when account balances are low. Parents can manage their notification settings in Skyward Family Access. Click on “Skylert” once logged in to manage your settings.

Payment to cover the cost of an a la carte purchase or adult meal must be in the patron’s account or provided at the time of purchase. 
 
Maize USD 266 wants children to be nourished and prepared to learn while still ensuring financial responsibility to patrons. 

After a negative balance occurs:

1. Food Service staff will notify families of unpaid charges.
2. Students with a negative balance will be allowed to charge two alternate lunches (peanut butter and jelly sandwich and milk) and one alternate breakfast (graham cracker and milk) at a rate of 45 cents. The account then will be considered delinquent and suspended until payment is received.
3. If a student has a negative balance and brings more money than the value of the day’s meal(s), the excess money can be applied to the negative balance. A student cannot be refused a meal in order to apply the entire payment to a negative balance.