phone (518)497-6611
fax (518)497-3170

School Lunch Information

CHATEAUGAY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
Dear Parents and Students,

This is to notify you that there will be no changes in the Food Service Department for the 2007-2008 school year. As you know, we are using an electronic lunch ID system. The system eliminated the need for the roster system and improved our overall accountability.

Students will use their ID number that they have been using all year long. This ID number will stay with the student until he/she graduates.

There will be no change in the method of our current operation. We strongly encourage PREPAYMENTS, which must be placed in an envelope accompanied by the student's name and ID number. (Please do not write this number on the outside of the envelope.) Keep your ID number confidential! If there is more than one student in a family, one student may make deposits to their siblings' accounts as long as you give us the ID numbers of each student and tell us the amounts to deposit to each account.

Example:
A $60.00 check..... .Billy Doe - Grade 4 #1111 $20.00; Judy Doe - Grade 7 #2222 $40.00

Check prepayments are accepted and encouraged; simply place your child(s) ID number(s) on the check. All checks should be made out to: "Chateaugay Central School District".

This money will be deposited into their accounts. At Breakfast/Lunch they will simply pick up their meal, punch in their ID number on the keypad and the money will be subtracted from their account. The H.S. may make a deposit anytime during the day but we encourage this before homeroom or at breakfast. Elementary students must place their prepayment envelopes in with their morning lunch count in each classroom. (To be delivered to the cafeteria later that morning)

The amount of the prepayment deposit is entirely up to you; it can range from one day to a month, even a year. So checks will be accepted for any dollar amount. However the system does not have the capability of a prepaid discount on a per meal basis, but we will be issuing a FREE BONUS meal for every $20.00 that is prepaid. As an example, if you issue a check for $20.00 your child will receive 1 Free Bonus Meal, which can be used at breakfast or lunch. If you prepay in the amount of $40.00 your child will receive 2 bonus meals, etc.

The new system will deduct both the meals and a la carte sales from your prepayments, so please anticipate both areas when making prepayments.

Question: What will stop the student from purchasing more than the parent allows?
Answer: If this is a problem with your child, simply notify us in writing what their limitations are and it will be programmed into the system. If you do not want your child to purchase a la carte items from their account, you can simply inform us of this request and we will program it into our system.

If a student's account gets low, our staff will remind them. If the student forgets his or her money, it will allow a negative balance up to 3 meals or $4.80.

Money in the student's account at the end of the school year will be carried over to the next school year.

If your child has a special "food" medical concern, once we are notified, this information will also be placed in the system to alert our staff to help monitor their meals.

The Chateaugay Food Service department believes this will assure the parents that lunch money will be used for lunch/breakfast and a la carte sales. Anyone who feels embarrassed when using the National School Lunch Program will not be able to be identified. It speeds up the meal line because there is little money being exchanged. Students do not have to worry about loosing or protecting their money, and it is an efficient and effective way for us to meet your child's needs now and in the future.
There may be some inconveniences in the first few days as the students and staff become re-acquainted with the system. If you have any questions please call Betty Marlow at 497-6611, ext 225,1 will be glad to address your concerns.

Features of the Computerized System

Benefits for Parents and Students

  • When the account is prepaid you can be sure that your student is only using that money for nutritious lunches/breakfasts/a la Carte sales served in our cafeteria.
  •  Lunch is defined as a choice of entree, milk choice, and two or more side dishes available to all students.
  •  Prepaid accounts for all students allows parents to deposit money in their student's account, in any amount, at any time, and not have to be concerned with giving their student the exact change every morning.
  •  For those students receiving free or reduced meals, their meals will be rung up as all the other meals are. No one will know whether they are receiving a free or reduced meal or debiting their account, except for the cashier.
  •  Lunch lines move faster when meals are prepaid, thus providing students extra time to enjoy their lunch period.
  •  Parents can pay any amount at any time. Students can prepay on the line with cash or parents can send in checks (with the student ID# on it), and students can give this to the cashier right in the lunch line. You are only charged for the lunches/breakfasts that are debited to your student's ID academic eligibility number. All student ID numbers are confidential.
  •  Some students purchase double lunches. Only one may be debited to your account per day, the second will be recorded as an a la carte sale from your account balance.
  •  Two pin pads are located at the cashier terminal; they will provide ease of use and allow for quick transactions.
  •  Prepayment allows for better security rather than cash.
  •  Once the transaction has been completed, your student will know his/her account balance.
  •  When student accounts get low, students will be informed at the register of their balance.

PREPAYMENT OPTIONS

  • You can send in prepayment monies at any time. We recommend that parents send in checks rather than cash. All monies should be submitted only to cafeteria personnel.
  •  Regular lunches will remain at $1.60 for grades K-6, $1.85 for grades 7-12. Breakfast costs $1.00. Reduced breakfasts and lunches cost $.25 each. However 1 FREE BONUS MEAL will be issued for every $20.00 of prepaid money for each child. 2 FREE MEALS for $40.00 etc.
  •  Checks are to be made payable to "Chateaugay Central School District".
  •  When sending prepayment, please include the student's ID# on the face of the check. If you send in cash please indicate on the face of the envelope, the student's ID#.

If you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to call the office of Cafeteria Services at 497-6611.ext 225.