Nutrition Services

How to Pay for A la Carte items and Second Meals

Money can be added to your students PayPams account to purchase items not covered by the Free School Meals Program, including:

• second breakfast or lunch
• additional breakfast & lunch entrees 
• milk only (for students bringing lunch from home)
• snacks Items 
• adult meals (for teachers, staff and other adults)

Forest Lake Nutrition Services uses a barcode-based meal payment system. Each student is assigned a unique barcode that is scanned at checkout to pay for any additional or a la carte items. Students do not need to enter a PIN number. 

Families can deposit money into their student's account in one of the following ways:

• Online via  PayPams
• In person by submitting payment to the school office. 

Nutrition Services Meal Charging Policy

ALL families with children enrolled in the district should complete an Application for Educational Benefits each year. The Application for Educational Benefits (formerly known as Free and Reduced Lunch Form) can be completed each year beginning in mid July. 

• Although meals are now fully covered by the state free meals program, families who qualify may receive additional benefits such as reduced activity fees, musical instrument rentals, discounted internet services and other reduced costs in the community. 

• Information provided on Applications for Educational Benefits also generates funding for our schools, students, and families. 

To qualify for these benefits, families must submit an application each year. Families may apply online at flaschools.org/nutrition or complete the paper application.

On-line Free and Reduced Application (English and Spanish)

Paper Application (English)

Paper Application (Spanish)

For applications in languages other than English or Spanish, go to:

www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/application/familyfriendlyapps.html

Who should complete the application?

• Households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), or the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). 

• Households that include one or more foster children. A welfare agency or court must have legal responsibility for the child(ren). 

• Households whose total income is within eligibility guidelines (see the chart below). 

• Income thresholds are higher than in some programs, so many families are surprised to find they DO qualify

Milk Substitutions:

Parents or Guardians may request lactose free milk by completing the fluid milk substitute form using the Milk Substitute Form and submitting it to your student's school nurse or Nutrition Manager.  Lactose free milk requests do not require a doctor's signature.

Other milk substitutions that are not nutritionally equivalent to cow's milk, such as rice milk, almond milk, oat milk, and water will require additional documentation.

Meal Modifications & Substitutions:

Forest Lake Nutrition Services will provide special dietary requests for students who are considered to have a disability that restricts their diet.

In accordance with federal USDA regulations, the Special Diet Form must be completed and signed by the parent/guardian as well as their physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse, such as certified nurse practitioner. This must be completed before any accommodations are able to be made.

All requests for modifications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and require the involvement of a child nutrition central office administrator and school nursing services staff.

Forms should be completed and returned to your school nurse and nutrition manager. 

Dietary Preferences:

The following are dietary preferences and are not considered medical conditions or disabilities and, thus, we are not legally required to accommodate but will do our best to ensure children have access to appropriate choices when able.

• Lifestyle choices (such as vegan, vegetarian, or organic)

• Religious choices (such as eliminating pork)

• General health concerns (such as a preference that a child eat a gluten-free diet because a guardian believes it is better for the child)

Our District has developed a Wellness Policy  that is focused on improving the health of students. The policy was developed by the health and wellness advisory council that includes teachers, parents, administrators, and the district nurse.

Please note: The District Wellness Policy is periodically reviewed by the School Board's Policy Advisory Committee. Parents, students, community members, school staff or board members who have any feedback or input regarding the policy discussion may contact Donna Friedmann, Director of Administration and Human Resources at dfriedmann@flaschools.org.

Key Areas of our Wellness Policy

Balance is essential for any Wellness Policy. Key areas include:

Wellness Assessment:

Nutrition Education

Physical activity

Other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness.

Wellness Policy assessment requirements

WellSAT 3.0 District Scorecard

Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or (2) fax: (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.