Frequently Asked Questions about Meal Service

Why do adults pay more money for their lunches?

Teachers, Valley View Staff members, and parents may purchase lunch in the cafeteria.  The charge for the adult lunch is currently $.40 more than the student meal.

Meals served to adults are not eligible for federal cash reimbursements nor do they earn donated commodities.  School food authorities must ensure that the federal reimbursements, children's payments and donated commodities do not subsidize program meals served to adults.  At a minimum the adult charge will be greater than the student charge by the value received in cash and commodity reimbursement.

If you are a parent, it would be helpful if you would call the school and let the Food Service Manager know that you will be eating lunch with your child.

How is the Food Service Department Funded

The Food Service Department is a fiscally self-sufficient operation.  All of our operating costs (salaries, benefits, food, supplies, printing, lunchroom aids, custodial costs, utilities, equipment, maintenance repairs, etc.) are paid for by funds generated by student and adult payments taken at the cash registers and state and federal government reimbursements received for school meals served.  The department does not take monies from the general fund that might be used for teacher salaries, student books or supplies.

The revenue stream for the food service department can be separated into the following sources:

Who writes the school meal menus?

An experienced, credentialed staff member, under the direction of a registered dietitian, writes the school meal menus.  They are reviewed by the Food Service Managers and continually evaluated for their nutritional content, and student acceptability.

Can my student eat breakfast at school?

Breakfast is available at all of the District's schools except Pioneer Elementary.  Breakfast is served about ½ hour before the beginning of the school day.

Can the names of students qualifying for free or reduced price meal benefits be released to staff members not directly involved with the feeding or supervision of a student's education or members of the public?

No. Parents must give their permission for this information to be released.  There is a box on the free/reduced price application that parents can check to give their permission for the release of this information.

What is a school Breakfast or Lunch?

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations, "School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children", published on June 13, 1995 provides a variety of meal planning approaches for school menus to meet federal nutrition guidelines.

The regulation establishes ¼ of the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for the school breakfast program, and 1/3 the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for school lunch for protein, vitamins A and C, iron, and calcium.

The following are the "patterns" used in menu development.

The school breakfast meal contains 4 components:

• Milk (8 oz)
• Fruit/vegetable ½ cup
• 2 grain products, OR
• 2 meat/meat alternates, OR (1 oz / serving each)
• A combination of 1 grain and 1 meat/meat alternate.

The school lunch contains 5 components:

• Meat/Meat alternate (2 oz protein servings)
• Grain/Breads (12 servings/wk 1st - 5th grades, 15 servings/wk 6th - 12th grades)
• Fruit and Vegetable (¾ cup/day at 1st - 5th grades, 1 cup/day 6th - 12th grades)
• Milk (8 oz)

What are the Calorie and Nutrient Standards for School Meals?

The school breakfast and lunch meals offered must meet the average nutrients and calorie levels below when averaged over the coarse of one week.

What is Offer vs. Serve?

Offer vs. Serve is an approved method of meal service in the National School Lunch Program. Students are only required to take 3 of the 4 components at breakfast, and 3 of the 5 components at lunch.  So if there is a component on the lunch that a student does not wish to eat, they can refuse it.  This helps to cut waste in the program.

Students who choose not to take all lunch spaces will not receive the full compliment of nutrients and calories as described in the Nutrient / Calorie Level chart.

The federal government mandates that Offer vs. Serve be implemented at the high school level. It is a District choice at the elementary and middle school level. The Valley View School District has implemented Offer vs. Serve at all grade levels.