Raytown Quality Schools Food Service
Welcome from the Raytown Food Service Department. We would like to help new and returning students and their families become familiar with the Food Service Program. We prepare nutritious breakfast and lunch meals for the students in each school.
Menus are written with student involvement utilizing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The menus are analyzed for protein, calcium, iron, fat, cholesterol, fiber, vitamin A and vitamin C.
Breakfast and Lunch Menus are available in the menu to the left and a copy is posted in each classroom.
We are committed to offering variety to our students. Elementary students choose from three entrees. Middle school students choose from five entrees. High school students choose from eight entrees each day. Alternative school students choose from three entrees. Some of these entrees are standing items available every day. Each grade level can choose from five side dishes.
To avoid a la carte pricing, elementary students must choose at least two side items and secondary students must choose three side items. We encourage students to choose all five side items.
Seconds on fruits and vegetables are available upon request (except potatoes).
As a department, we are committed to the nutrition and satisfaction of our customers. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
History of School Lunch ProgramsNational School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Missouri’s own President Harry S. Truman signed the National School Lunch Act on June 4, 1946. Though school food service began long before 1946, the Act authorized the National School Lunch Program (NLSP). The legislation came in response to claims that many American men had been rejected for World War II military service because of diet-related health problems. The federally assisted meal program was established as “a measure of national security, to safeguard the health and well-being of the Nation’s children and to encourage the domestic consumption of nutritious agricultural commodities.”
The National School Lunch Act has since been amended numerous times. Public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions may participate in the NSLP. This program also offers after school snacks in sites that meet eligibility requirements. The NSLP is celebrated each year during National School Lunch Week in October.
School Breakfast Program
On October 11, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. The Act established the School Breakfast Program (SBP). The SBP is a federally assisted meal program that provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free breakfasts to children in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. President Johnson remarked during the signing of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, “good nutrition is essential to good learning.” Appropriately, this Act was signed during National School Lunch Week. The SBP is celebrated annually during National School Breakfast Week in March.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I apply for free and reduced meal benefits for my child(ren)?
To receive benefits you must complete a free/reduced meal benefit family application for each student. The application can be obtained at the school's front office, the school cafeteria, the Food Service Office, or on-line. To assure a quick response, fill out all information correctly and return the form to the school cafeteria manager or directly to the Food Service Office located at 10508 E. 60th Terrace, Raytown, MO 64133. For an income application, please make sure to list the student's name, school, and grade. You will also need to list all household members and income. Sign and date the application. Include the social security of the household adult member who signed the application. An application cannot be approved without an adult household member signature and social security number. If the household receives Food Stamps, the food stamp number should be listed with the student's name, school attending, and grade. The adult household member must sign the application and provide a social security number. Return the completed form to the school cafeteria or to the Food Service Office. For further information you may call the Food Service Office at 816-268-7076. You will be mailed a letter providing the application result one the application has been processed.
- Why does my child bring home an application for meal benefits every year?
The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Program requires an application be sent home with each district student. The program provides free and reduced meals for children of families unable to pay full price of the meals. To apply for these benefits, parents of students must fill out this application and return it to the school cafeteria or send it to the food service office. A new application must be filled out at the beginning of each new school year, on a current year application form. Meal benefits, breakfast and lunch meal service begins on the day the application is approved in the Food Service Office and continues throughout the school year and approximately the first thirty days of the next school year. Any student who does not have a current application on file in the Food Service Office will be unable to receive free/reduced meal benefits after thirty calendar days into the new school year.
- Why was my child's application denied for free/reduced meal benefits?
To understand why an application is denied, it is important to know how the application is reviewed. The Nutrition Services designee approves all applications based on federal criteria in three different areas:
1) food stamp or TANF families automatically qualify for free meals if a food stamp number is provided on the application.
2) foster children, who are placed in a home by the state automatically qualify for free meals provided this information is provided on the application.
3) Income/household families must be evaluated for eligibility based on the size of household and the monthly income.
If the application does not meet the federal income guidelines, or if the application is not correctly completed, then it may be denied. If there is a question, the parent is encouraged to discuss the situation with the Food Services designee, Laura Carey.
- Why was my child's application selected for income verification?
Federal guidelines require all sponsors of the National School Lunch program to conduct income verification on a pre-selected percentage. Applications at each school site are randomly selected for verification by using district-approved procedures. Within a specified time period, parents/guardians must provide adequate documentation to substantiate income. If information is not provided, the student will lose free/reduced meal benefits.
- What are the income guidelines for the free/reduced meal program?
The National School Lunch and Breakfast program use USDA Income Eligibility Guidelines, which are adjusted annually for inflation. These guidelines are used when approving applications for children who apply to receive a free or reduced meal. Free meal benefit guidelines are 130% of Federal poverty guidelines and reduced are 185% of poverty guidelines. All school sites receive a copy of the revised guidelines each year and are required to exactly follow them when approving applications.
- How can I make a deposit on my child's account, check account balance, or history of food purchases?
Prepaying for lunch, breakfast, and/or ala carte items is an efficient way to pay for your student's school meals. Meals may be paid either by check, cash, or on-line. Please refer to the district website for specific instructions on paying on-line. The cashier will provide a friendly reminder when his/her account balance is getting low, but it is always a good idea for parents to keep track of the meals and snacks their child purchases. Currently, you can get your child's meal account balance and a history of meal selections by contacting the cafeteria or better yet view their purchases using our on-line payment system. You may use this feature even if you do not use the on-line payment feature. Or you can contact the cafeteria manager at your student’s school site. The cafeteria manager will provide you with this information either by phone, mail, or by sending it home with your child. You will need to provide proof of identity to the cafeteria manager before this information can be provided to you.
- How do I receive a refund on my students account?
If you would like a refund of money in your child's account, you must make a request in writing to the cafeteria manager using a Refund Request form. The information given should include the child's name, school, parents name as well as the address where the refund should be mailed. Please allow 4-6 weeks for a check to be issued.
- How does my child receive a PIN? Will the PIN remain the same?
A student’s PIN number is also the student’s ID number established at time of enrollment and the student will keep this ID number for time that he/she is a student in the Raytown C-2 School District.
- What if my child does not have money available for meal purchase on the account?
We do not want any children to go hungry if for some reason they lack funds to purchase a breakfast or lunch that is desired. If a child lacks funds to purchase breakfast or lunch from his/her account, we provide at breakfast graham cracker snacks and milk then at lunch we provide a PB Meal that consists of the PB sandwich, all sides and a drink.
- How can I limit what my child can purchase from his/her account?
A child's account can be blocked from ala carte purchases at the parent's request. The "block" will allow the account to only be used for full meals and will remain in effect until the cafeteria manager is contacted to remove this block. Parents should send a note to the cafeteria manager at the school their child attends to request this service.
- What happens to money left in my child's account at the end of the school year?
Any money left in the child's account at the end of the school year will be available on the first day of summer school and/or the first day of school the following year. The funds will also advance to another school in the district as your child progresses through the Raytown C-2 School District.
- Who writes the menu for the Food Service Program?
The Director of Food Service, Cindy Rawie, in conjunction with each school's cafeteria manager plans the school menu. Feedback is also received through students and staff. All menus must follow the National School Breakfast and Lunch requirements for food items, portion sizes, and nutritional requirements.
- Who determines the lunch time periods for my child's school?
Each individual school principal establishes meal times. Federal guidelines state that lunch periods shall occur between 10:00 a.m. and 2 p.m. Breakfast is usually served 30 minutes prior to the school day beginning. Federal guidelines also state that there needs to be at least 2 hours from the end of breakfast to the beginning of lunch. Schools are encouraged to provide an adequate number of lunch periods that are sufficient in length to ensure all students have an opportunity to be served and a reasonable amount of time to eat their meals.
- Why do adults pay more for their meals than the students?
The district receives federal reimbursement for meals served to children only. The value of this reimbursement plus any donated commodities must not be used to subsidize adult meals.
- How does the food service department handle special diets or allergies?
Special diets and food allergies (including milk allergies) require a special form from a certified doctor to be on file with the food service department. A new form is required each school year and should be sent to the cafeteria manager at the school your child attends. A memo will be placed on the POS to remind the cashier of the allergy or special diet.
| 