Food service Department

Deposits, Histories, and Lunch Applications On-Line

The food service department’s POS cash register system, called Meal Magic, allows parents to access their children’s accounts, view histories, make credit card deposits, and apply for free or reduced lunches on-line with a secure internet connection. If you have computer/software problems with either of these services, please call the Meal Magic Corporation at 1-877-383-3100 and select #2.

In order to deposit money on-line, parents must set up an account and password. Please go to sendmoneytoschool.com  and click on the sign-up link, put in your e-mail address, password and answer any other questions. You will need to know your student’s ID# in order to access his/her account. If you do not know your student’s ID#, please call the food service director at 231-924-8160 to get this information. Once on the website, you can deposit money on-line by credit/debit card or checking account, and view your student’s balance and history. All deposits will be received into your child’s account within 15 minutes and you can make deposits for more than one child using only one transaction. There is no minimum deposit, but there is a set $2.00 service fee for all deposits made on-line. A bonus amount of six percent will be deposited into your child’s account for any deposits of $100 or more per child, which would offset the on-line service fee.

Apply for free and reduced meals on-line by going to www.lunchapp.com/,  select Fremont Public Schools, and answer the questions. When using this site, you will no longer need to send in the paper application and, in most cases, your approval will be in one business day or less. Documentation of your income may still be requested during the verification period.

Computerized Prepaid Breakfasts and Lunches – How Does it Work?

Students who were eligible for free and reduced price meals last May will automatically qualify for the same meal program benefits until September 30. By that time, a new application, included in this newsletter, available at all schools, and available on-line at www.lunchapp.com/,  must be filled out and approved. All students should be listed on one family application. The application was been completely revised this year, so please read the instructionscarefully and fill out the application completely. If a new application is not filled out and approved, students will be charged full price as of Monday, October 1.

The Fremont Public Schools Food Service Department operates with computerized cash registers in all schools. This computer system operates on the same database as the school student files and therefore names, addresses, grades, etc. will be accurate per the school office.

Lunch balances, whether positive or negative, will also be carried forward to the next grade and school. Students starting the school year with a NEGATIVE balance of $8.00 or more from the previous school year will be denied lunch or breakfast until that debt has been paid. “Overdue” slips were sent home several times at the end of the school year to let you know your child’s balance. If you would like to know your child’s balance at any time, you can call 231-924-8160. Pink “overdue” slips will be sent out to all elementary parents on Thursdays during the school year to keep you informed of your child’s balance. Please watch for these slips in your elementary student’s school bag. Middle and high school students will be verbally reminded when their balance is low or overdrawn.

The computerized cash registers operate on a “prepayment debit” system, not on a “charging” system. Students/ parents should deposit a lump sum into their account to purchase breakfasts, lunches, or ala carte items. To promote a larger prepayment amount, the Food Service Department will offer parents a “6 percent BONUS” for any deposits of $100 or more per student. This bonus amount will be added directly into your child’s account. On-line credit/debit card and checking account deposits can be made at www.sendmoneytoschool.com.

All money for student meals must be sent in an envelope with the student’s name, ID number and the amount on the outside so the cashier can correctly deposit it. Family deposits can be made as long as it is clear how much money is to be deposited for each child. Checks are recommended, and you can include the student ID# in the memo section. For all cash deposits, the envelope acts as a receipt for the deposit. Lunch envelopes are available in each school office, cafeteria, and in many classrooms.

As a courtesy to parents and students, students may be allowed, with the permission of the cashier, to charge occasionally, but repayment is expected the next day. After $8.00 in charges, the elementary students will be denied breakfast or lunch, but will be offered a peanut butter sandwich and milk to give them something to eat on that day. A maximum of three peanut butter sandwiches will be offered to students with a negative balance. After three days, the student will be denied all food until the debt has been paid. Parents can make payment arrangements for extenuating circumstances by contacting the food service cashier at their child’s building.

Detailed student meal histories are available through the computer system and on-line by setting up an account at www.sendmoneytoschool.com  Parents and students are expected to keep track of their student balances or call the food service cashier in your child’s building if you are unsure of the current balance. Elementary students with a negative balance of $1.00 or more will receive a pink “overdue slip” each Thursday to take home. This slip explains the procedure in place for handling negative accounts and lists all building cashier’s phone numbers.

If you have any questions regarding the food service program or student balances, please contact Director of Food Services Denise McDaniel at 231-924-8160.