Frequently Asked Questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. How do I open a lunch account for my student?
2. How do I deposit money into their account?
3. Do you accept credit cards?
4. If I send in cash with my student can he/she get change?
5. What if I forget to send lunch money to school?
8. Can we request food substitutions for Religious and/or personal reasons?
9. How do I check what my student is buying with their meal account?
10. If my student changes schools, does their money go with them?
12. How do I apply for Free/Reduced lunches?
13. Will my student’s pin number always be the same?
14. What is considered a lunch and what is considered ala carte?
15. Can my student buy extra food (ala carte)?
17. What is included with the price of a meal?
18. My student is going on a field trip; can he/she get a sack lunch?
1. How do I open a lunch account for my student?
When you enroll your student in school, they are automatically issued a Food Services meal account. They are assigned a 6 digit pin number which will be entered when they purchase food or drink.
2. How do I deposit money into their Food Services meal account?
Please send either cash or a check and give it to the Food Services Clerk. All siblings can be paid for in either building.
3. Do you accept credit cards?
Yes, payments can be made with the Food Service clerk.
4. If I send in cash with my student can he/she get change?
That really depends. A minimum of change is kept at each school. They can only make change for small dollar amounts. If the student needs to be given change he/she needs to tell the cashier before handing them the money. The majority of all cash transactions are deposits, and the cashiers rarely give change unless it is asked for.
5. What if I forget to send lunch money to school?
Students will be fed but please send lunch money as soon as possible.
6. How much do meals cost?
Elementary Prices 2022-2023
Student Breakfast - $0.00
Student Lunch - $0.00
Secondary Prices 2022-2023
Student Breakfast - $0.00
Student Lunch - $0.00
7. My student has a life threatening food allergy / non-life threatening food allergy / physical disability; is there any way Food & Nutrition Services can help?
Substitution and/or accommodations can be made for students with Life Threatening allergies and/or Life Threatening physical disabilities. A Diet Prescription form, available from the school district or medical statement must be submitted to the Food Service office to allow the substitution. It must include: An identification of the medical or other special dietary condition which restricts the child’s diet. The food or foods to be omitted from the child’s diet. The food or choice of foods to be substituted. The Diet Prescription form or medical statement must be signed by your physician or recognized medical authority. No substitutions can be made to our menus without either the Diet Prescription form or the medical statement on file. No substitutions are allowed for non-life threatening reasons. Those students may take advantage of the other offerings that day and make their own substitutions.
8. Can we request food substitutions for religious and/or personal reasons?
No. All food substitutions must be prescribed by your physician or medical authority for a Life Threatening medical reason.
9. How do I check what my student is buying with their meal account?
You may contact either the Food Service staff at your school or the Food Service Office. We would be happy to print off a report and either mail, e-mail, or send it home with your child.
You may also check all of their account activity online through the Family Access Portal of the school districts website. Just click the Food Service tab on the left side of the screen. From there you may print a Customer Meal Statement if you wish.
10. If my student changes schools, does their money go with them?
Yes, if they change schools within the Manson School District their money and free/reduced status will follow them.
11. We are leaving the Manson School District, how do I have the money in my student's meal account refunded to me?
Please contact the Food Service office: (509) 687-9585. Refunds will be given. Please allow 6-8 weeks for the check to be mailed to you.
12. How do I apply for Free/ Reduced lunches?
For the 2022-2023 school year, Manson School District participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). This means, each student may receive a complete meal at no cost. In order to continue this program, please complete and return any forms you may receive from the school district, such as a Family Income Survey or Consent to Share.
13. Will my student’s pin number always be the same?
Yes, they will keep the same number until they move away from the Manson School District or graduate.
14. What is considered a Lunch and what is considered Ala Carte?
A “lunch” is 3 out of the 5 food components in the appropriate amounts (grains, dairy, fruit, vegetables, meat/meat alternative). Most entrees account for 2 food components. Students are required to choose 1/2 cup of a fruit and/or vegetable. Everything else is considered ala carte and will be priced accordingly.
15. Can my student buy extra food (Ala Carte)?
Elementary students may buy with their meal accounts; breakfast, lunch and milk.
Secondary students may use their meal account to buy any food/snack items available to them. If you do not wish for them to use their meal account in this manner, please contact your Food Service Clerk and ask to speak with them. When available, pricing is as follows: entree $3.00, salad bar $3.00, and milk $0.25.
16. Are school meals healthy?
Great question! Yes, Manson School menus offer the recommended daily allowance of nutrients by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition Guidelines. Breakfast contributes ¼ of the USDA’s daily nutrient requirements and lunch contributes 1/3 of the USDA's daily nutrient requirements.
17. What is included with the price of a meal?
Lunch includes: 1-2 oz. protein, 1-2 servings of bread/grains, 1/2 cup of vegetables, 1/2 cup of fruit, 8 oz. milk. Breakfast includes: 1 oz. bread/grains, 1 oz. protein or 2 oz. bread/grains PLUS ½ cup of juice, 1/2 cup of fruit and 8 oz. milk. Anything else your student wishes to choose will be considered Ala-Carte and will be priced accordingly.
18. My student is going on a field trip; can they get a sack lunch?
Yes, sack lunches are available for field trips. Please see the field trip form for details.