School Board Policy 6.185

Rules of the School Board of Palm Beach County, Florida

Title 6Gx50
Chapter 6. Business Affairs
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Policy 6.185 School Food Service Management Policy

1. In General.

The School Board recognizes that nutritious meals are essential to a child's growth and development and influences academic achievement. To this end, the School Board believes that every school age child should have adequate nutrition, and therefore the school district is authorized to participate in the National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Summer Food Service, and After-School-Snack Programs; to provide supplemental foods; and, to receive commodities donated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The School Food Service Program (the "Program") shall be an integral part of the District's educational program, offering nutritional and educational opportunities for students. The Program shall operate in accordance with the requirements set forth in federal and state laws and regulations, and local laws and policies as adopted by the School Board.

2. Meal Service.

All schools shall participate in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs and shall serve student meals according to meal patterns as required by the United States Department of Agriculture and State Board of Education.

3. Meal Prices.

It is the policy of the School Board to provide free or reduced-price meals to eligible students as provided by federal and state laws. The Program shall be operated on a nonprofit basis and shall be primarily for the benefit of students. Meal prices shall be approved by the School Board as provided for in School Board Policy 6.03 (Cost of School Meals).

4. Sale of Competitive Foods and Beverages

The sale of foods and beverages on school on school grounds shall be limited to those provided by the Department of School Food Services, except as provided below.

Competitive foods and beverages may be available, in middle and high schools of the School District, up to one hour before the beginning of breakfast and one hour after the last lunch period.
Competitive foods and beverages shall not be sold during the school day at any elementary school in the School District. "Competitive foods and beverages" shall mean any food or beverage item sold to students that compete with the school district's operation of the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs. Items include those sold in vending machines or those sold by students, parents or school administrative staff, or any other person, company or organization.

5. Assurance of Non-Discrimination Practices.

The names of students and their meal status shall not be published, posted or announced except as required by law. Thus, there shall be no overt identification of any student by the use of special tokens, tickets, lists or by any other means. Further assurance is to be given that a student eligible for free or reduced price meals shall not be required to:
Work for their meal;
Use a seperate room, go through a seperate line, enter through a seperate entrance, eat at a different time or eat a different meal from the meal sold to other children as a result of his or her status;
Forego school breakfast or lunch as a disciplinary action; or
Pay the full price of such meal, if determined to be eligible for a free or reduced price meal.

6. Compliance with Sanitation and Health Regulations.

The Program shall meet the standards for food service and sanitation and safety as required by the Florida Board of Health and Florida Department of Education.

7. USDA Donated Commodities.

U.S. Department of Agriculture donated commodities shall be received and used in accordance with current USDA and applicable State Board of Education agreements or rules. Such commodities shall not be sold, exchanged for any purpose, or used in any manner which violates federal regulations.

8. Responsibilities for School Food Services.

a.       Responsibilities of School Food Service Director and Central Administrative Staff :
The reponsibilities of the School Food Services Director and Central Administrative Staff shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
To ensure the Program is operated in accordance with federal laws and regulations, rules of the State Board of Education, and School Board Policies;
To develop the food service annual district budget;
To develop and implement food service procedures and an accountability system, including developing and distributing all necessary forms needed for the program;
To implement an ongoing system of in-service training for all food service employees of the school system;
To administer the Manager Intern Training Program to qualify candidates to be eligible for hire as School Food Service Managers at individual schools;
To administer the USDA Free and Reduced Price Meal Program and approve those students who are entitled to free or reduced price meals.
To Identify equipment and facilities in the school's Program for maintenance and repair and recommending such needs to the Chief Operating Officer and to replace equipment that has reached the end of its productive use;
To periodically inspect all food preparation and serving areas to ensure that all health and sanitation standards are being met;
To assist the principal upon request with selection of food service personnel at individual school sites for recommendation to the Superintendent for employment; and
To administer the USDA Donated Commodity Food Program, including acquisition, warehousing, storage, allocation, and distribution to schools.
b.       Responsibilities of School Principal and School Staff
The responsibilities of the principal and local school staff shall include, but not be lmited to, the following:
To ensure the Program in the school is operated in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws, regulations and School Board policies;
To schedule students to effect the greatest participation in the school's Program;
To ensure that the exclusion of a meal shall not be used contrary to the non-discrimination provisions herein; and
To ensure that all students new to the district receive a Free and Reduced Price Meal Application.
c.       Responsibilities of School Food Service Manager
The food service manager located at each school shall work under the administrative direction of the principal and shall be subject to technical supervision and oversight by the School Food Service Director in accordance with School Board Policy, federal requirements and other applicable state laws. The food service manager in each school shall be responsible for collecting and accounting for all student and adult receipts, and shall maintain the required cash control procedures.

9. Food Prepared Outside of the Program.

If school cafeterias will be used by parties other than the staff of the Department of School food Service and involves the preparation of food, the provisions of School Board Policy 6.27 (Food Prepared Outside the Regular School Food Service Program) shall be applicable.

10. School Food Services Purchases.

Purchases for the Program shall be governed by School Board Policy 6.17 (Purchasing for School Food Service) and shall be made in conformance with any federal and/or state laws and regulations.

11. Food Services Procedures

The School Food Service Director or designees,shall develop school food services procedures manuals containing administrative procedural guidance for the operation of the Program, including appeal procedures for the denial of any applications for free and reduced price meals. School Food Service employees, principals and any other staff members designated by the principal shall be expected to become familiar with and abide by all applicable provisions of the manuals.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY:	Fla. Stat. §§ 1001.42; 1001.43
LAWS IMPLEMENTED:	Fla. Stat. §§ 1001.42(14); 1001.43; 1006.06 FS; 7CFR Parts 210-250;SBER: 6A-7.040; 6A-7.041; 6A-7.0411; 6A-7.0421; 6A-7.045, F. A.C.
HISTORY:	8/27/08

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