Charge Policy & Meal Prices

SY26 Breakfast and Lunch Prices

School	Meal	Student-Regular Price	Student-Reduced Price	Adult Staff	Visitors (Adults/Child)
Elementary	Breakfast	$1.50	$0.30	$3.00	$3.25
Elementary	Lunch	$2.25	$0.40	$5.25	$5.25
Middle/High	Breakfast	$1.50	$0.30	$3.00	$3.25
Middle/High	Lunch	$2.75	$0.40	$5.25	$5.25

 

Charging of Meals

All cafeterias have computerized cashiers with pre-payment ability. We encourage pre-payments for the student's convenience. Parents may check student balances and make payments online at www.linqconnect.com. This website will allow families to see current transactions, monitor cafeteria balances, and make payments on cafeteria accounts. There are also options to set up alerts for low-balances, and other important alerts that families may find beneficial. 

Cafeteria balance letters will be sent home with students each month to keep families informed of outstanding cafeteria account balances. Limited charges are allowed for students. However, if charges are not paid and become excessive, students may be denied participation in various rewards, including but not limited to field trips, field days, and other reward incentives. In addition, the Nutrition Department will make phone calls to parents/guardians who do not respond to monthly cafeteria balance letters and maintain documentation of contact attempts on file in the Nutrition Department. If a successful resolution is not met, the administration may make a referral to the school social worker or seek reimbursement through legal means. 

Snacks and Extras

Snacks and extra menu items (à la carte items) are available for purchase. Students with outstanding cafeteria balances cannot purchase snacks or à la carte items. All snacks sold during the school days must meet Smart Snack guidelines. This includes fundraising items and items sold in the school office, school store, or anywhere on the school campus during school hours. This applies to vending machines as well.

Free and reduced lunch application procedure

• Every student receives a free and reduced meal application on the first day of each school year or on the first day of his/her enrollment in this system.
• After completion of the application, it should be submitted to the lunchroom manager. (Note: If a family has more than one child in the school system, only one application is needed.)
• The manager will send the application to the Food Service Department at the Central Office.
• The Food Service Department will enter the information provided on the application for approval. A letter will be sent to home with students indicating whether the student has been approved or denied free/reduced meal benefits, as well as an explanation of the approval/denial.
• Free and reduced meal applications are valid for one school year only. Applications must be filled out each year the child is enrolled in our system. However, students who received free and reduced meals the previous year may continue eligibility for up to 30 days of the new school year while a current application is being processed.
• Families may choose to complete an online application instead of the paper copy. The application can be found at www.linqconnect.com. Once submitted online, this is sent directly to the School Nutrition Director for processing.

*Any child without a previously approved application on file is responsible for paying for any meals they eat until their application is complete, turned in, and approved.

Food and Beverages Brought on Campus

Chattooga County Schools’ Wellness Policy states that outside food and beverages brought onto school campuses for individual student consumption during mealtimes must adhere to regulations surrounding competitive food and competitive food sales. This means no outside food or beverage items, specifically items purchased at restaurants, will be permitted on campus in restaurant branded containers for individual student consumption.