710.1 SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM
710.1 SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAMThe school district will operate a school nutrition program in each attendance center. The school nutrition program will include meals through participation in the National School Lunch Program. Students may bring their lunches from home and purchase milk and other incidental items.
School nutrition program facilities are provided to serve students and employees when school is in session and during school-related activities. They may also be used under the supervision of the Food Service Director for food service to employee groups, parent-teacher meetings, civic organizations meeting for the purpose of better understanding the schools, and senior citizens in accordance with law and board policy.
The school nutrition program is operated on a nonprofit basis. The revenues of the school nutrition program will be used only for the operation or improvement of such programs. Supplies of the school nutrition program will only be used for the school nutrition program.
The board will set, and annually review, the prices for school nutrition programs. It is the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation regarding the prices of the school nutrition programs, in accordance with federal and state law.
It is the responsibility of Food Service Director to administer the program and to cooperate with the superintendent and appropriate personnel for the proper functioning of the school nutrition program.
The district shall comply with all federal and state laws and regulations required for procurement, including the selection and evaluation of contractors. The superintendent or designee is responsible for developing an administrative process to implement this policy, including, but not limited to, procedures related to suspension and debarment for transactions subject to those requirements.
NOTE: This is a mandatory policy.
NOTE: Superintendents will make the annual recommendation to the board after they have completed the Paid Lunch Equity (PLE) tool. For additional information, please visit the “Nutrition Programs” section of the Iowa Department of Education’s website.
Legal Reference: 42 U.S.C. §§ 1751 et seq..
7 C.F.R. Pt. 210 et seq..
Iowa Code ch. 283A.
281 I.A.C. 58.
Cross Reference: 710.2 Free or Reduced Cost Meals Eligibility
710.3 Vending Machines
710.4 Meal Charge Policy
905 Use of School District Facilities and Equipment
Approved 12/13/91 Reviewed 11/22/22 Revised 7/17/24
710.01-R(1) Regulation: School Food Program-School Nutrition Program Civil Rights Complaints Procedure
710.01-R(1) Regulation: School Food Program-School Nutrition Program Civil Rights Complaints ProcedureUSDA Child Nutrition Programs in Iowa
Procedures for Handling a Civil Rights Complaint
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Civil rights complaints related to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Afterschool Care Snack Program, Summer Food Service Program, Seamless Summer Option, or Child and Adult Care Food Program are written or verbal allegations of discrimination based on USDA protected classes of race, color, national origin, sex, age, and disability.
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Any person claiming discrimination has a right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discrimination. See below for additional Iowa Civil Rights information. A civil rights complaint based on the protected classes listed in #1 above must be forwarded to the address on the nondiscrimination statement.
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All complaints, whether written or verbal, must be accepted by the School Food Authority (SFA)/Sponsor/Organization and forwarded to USDA at the address or link on the nondiscrimination statement within 5 calendar days of receipt. An anonymous complaint should be handled the same way as any other. Complaint forms may be developed, but their use cannot be required. If the complainant makes the allegations verbally or in a telephone conversation and is reluctant or refuses to put them in writing, the person who handles the complaint must document the description of the complaint.
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There must be enough information to identify the agency or individual toward which the complaint is directed and indicate the possibility of a violation. Every effort should be made to obtain at least the following information:
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Name, address and telephone number or other means of contacting the complainant;
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The specific location and name of the organization delivering the program service or benefit;
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The nature of the incident(s) or action(s) that led the complainant to feel there was discrimination;
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The basis on which the complainant feels discrimination occurred (race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability);
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The names, titles, and addresses of people who may have knowledge of the discriminatory action(s); and
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The date(s) when the alleged discriminatory action(s) occurred or, if continuing, the duration of such action(s)
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USDA is the cognizant agency for the Child Nutrition Programs listed and therefore is the first contact for the six protected classes listed in #1 above, for complaints received within 180 days. Civil rights complaints must be submitted to the USDA Office of Civil Rights within five calendar days of receipt and no later than 180 days of the discriminatory act. The link for submission of a complaint is: program.intake@usda.gov
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In Iowa, protected classes also include sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or creed and complaints can be filed up to 300 days of occurrence. The address for Iowa complaints is: Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office building, 400 E. 14th St. Des Moines, IA 50319- 1004; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.
Bureau of Nutrition and Health, IDOE, 12/2021
I.C. Iowa Code |
Description |
Iowa Code § 283A |
School Meal Programs |