Food Service

Beginning in August 2022, the Nutrition Services Department will change back to the way it operated before March 2020:

Breakfast and lunch will still be available to all students; however, they will NOT be free to all students. That means that all families will need to complete the Free and Reduced-price Family Application to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.  The students who do not qualify for free or reduced-priced meals must pay full price for breakfast and lunch.  Apply for free or reduced-price meals online and deposit money into your student’s account at saugatuck.familyportal.cloud. Parents can also print off a hard copy of the application, fill it out and return it to the office at school. 

Breakfast is served every morning in the cafeterias 20-30 minutes before the start of the school day. 
Lunch is available to all students. All students MUST fill out a new lunch application this school year. 

Elementary students are offered 2 lunch choices every day. Students make their lunch choice every morning in their classroom with their teachers. Parents can deposit lunch money online or send it to school with their student. If a student has food allergies, a doctor must complete a meal accommodation form in order for the food service department to make any substitutions. 

Middle/High School students do not have to make their lunch choices in the morning. At the secondary level, students can choose from more than 12 different menu choices each day. Students, at lunch, go through the lunch line and choose 1 main entree, along with fruit, vegetables and milk for a complete lunch. Students are able to purchase extra items at the middle and high school if they have money in their lunch account. Students can deposit money in their accounts daily in the cafeteria or online. 

According to federal guidelines, ALL students must take a fruit or vegetable with their breakfast or lunch.

Meal Accounts & Payments

  • All meals are charged to the student’s prepaid account. Payment for school meals is expected at the time of purchase.
  • We do not extend credit or allow charges. We recognize that there are times when a deposit is forgotten and so, as a courtesy to families, we have a 3 meal grace period. 
  • Parents/Guardians are encouraged to apply for Free/Reduced benefits which must be done every year.
  • Your student’s lunch account works as a debit card, eliminating the need to carry cash to school.
  • Please ensure enough money is deposited into the student lunch account to cover their meal purchases.
  • You may use Send Money To School which is an online system we partner with. There is a small convenience fee when making a deposit, but it is free to use to track funds in the account.
  • Cash or Check is accepted at all schools. There are lunch envelopes in each office to put your deposit in, be sure to write the student’s full name and grade on the envelope, and we will deposit it into your student’s account.
  • Parents/Guardians are ultimately responsible for ensuring money is in the account or a benefit has been received.

Grace Period – Elementary

  • We give a 3 meal grace period ($-7.50 Full Pay) before students are offered an alternative meal, which is Fun Lunch, Choice B, and meets all nutrition requirements for a reimbursable meal.
  • A note will be sent home weekly when there is a balance.
  • Emails are sent regularly for those with email address on file.
  • On the 3rd day of grace, an alternative meal will be offered and the student account will be charged $2.50 for the alternative meal. Parents are still responsible for payment.

Grace Period – Middle & High School

  • We give a 3 meal grace period ($-8.55 Full Pay) before students are offered an alternative meal, which is a Grab-n-Go sandwich lunch and meets all nutrition requirements for a reimbursable meal.
  • Students are informed of their negative balance at the register.
  • Emails are sent regularly for those with email address on file.
  • If we do not receive a deposit during the grace period, students will be offered an alternative meal and the student account will be charged $2.85 for the alternative meal. Parents are still responsible for payment. No other purchases will be allowed.
  • A la carte items can only be purchased with cash or money in the student’s account (no charging).

Adults  – are not permitted to charge meals or a la carte items

All meal charges MUST be paid off by the end of the school year.  Any unpaid charges will be carried forward to the next school year and apply towards the grace period process.

Account Refunds –

  • Money on student accounts at the end of the school year will carry over to the next school year.
  • If graduating or moving out of district, money left over can be transferred to a sibling account or donated to a student in need account (determined by Food Service Personnel).
  • Email Patty Wall to request a transfer or refund
  • Please include student name & grade with the amount balance and also the name and grade of the sibling to transfer the money into
  • Requests for a refund are only given if the balance is $5.00 or greater
  • If requesting a refund, please include:
    • Student(s) name(s)
    • Parent name to write check to
    • Address
    • City, State , Zip Code
    • Phone Number

Deposit Calculation

  • Please deposit enough money in your student’s account to cover at least one week of lunches or milk.
  • We use a service called Meal Magic so that parents may conveniently add funds to their student’s meal account.
  • First time visitors to this site need to create a new account.
  • You will need your student’s ID #. Please call the Food Service office to obtain this number.
  • Middle School and High School students are responsible for their own student ID and are to have them for all meal purchases.
  • You can apply for free meals online at saugautck.familyportal.cloud.  This is quick and easy to do and the results will be directly to my office.  No one else will see the application.  Your privacy is important to us.  If you complete a paper form, please return it in an envelope or stapled stapled shut.

 Parental Blocks/Ala Carte  –

  • At the secondary level we offer Ala Carte items for sale
  • Parents have option to not allow your child(ren) to purchase these items
  • Parents also have option to require cash only for Ala Carte items
  • Please call the office 269.457.8502 for assistance with these blocks

Special Dietary Needs –

  • If your student has special dietary needs diagnosed by a licensed physician and the Medical Statement has been completed, we will comply with the request.
  • If your student does not have a disability, we will do our best to accommodate a reasonable request.
  • Saugatuck 2022 2023 lunch application
    Families must reapply for benefits every year
  • Applications are processed in the order received. Please allow 10 business days.
  • You will be notified by mail of your benefit status
  • Please submit your new application by the 30th day of school. After the 30th day of school, your student will be charged full price meals until a new application is processed and benefit applied. 
  • You will be responsible for the charges incurred because of the late submission.
  • One application per family is needed.
  • Please make sure to follow the directions carefully as failure to do so or miss a step will cause delays in the final approval process.

English Forms
How to Apply
Application
FAQ
Permission to Share Information

  • Board Wellness Policy or link
  • Wellness Newsletter

If you would like to deposit money in to your students account please visit saugatuck.familyportal.cloud

How to Build a Healthy Meal
Free & Reduced Lunch Application
FAQ about Free and Reduced Lunch
SPS Breakfast Information
Summer Meals Flyer
Menus
School Lunch Charge Policy

Patty Wall
Food Service Director
269-857-2139
email Mrs. Wall

The Child Nutrition team works hard to provide high quality, affordable, nutritionally balanced meals that our students enjoy, in a fun and friendly atmosphere. Our team is trained in safe food handling and is proud of our excellent rating with the Allegan County Health dept.

Please contact us if your student has special dietary needs. We will work with your health provider to make all food substitutions needed for your child’s health.

Each family should receive a copy of The Lunch Line application for free or reduced priced meals. Easy directions are in English and Spanish. An application must be renewed by the end of September each year to continue to receive benefits.

If your family uses Food Stamps, you may be automatically approved for free meals through agency records. In that case you will receive a letter of confirmation. Each year 3% of all applicants will be asked to verify their income with check stubs or other proof.

You can apply for free meals on line at www.lunchapp.com. This is quick & easy to do and the results will be sent directly to my office. No one else will see the application. Your privacy is important to us. If you complete a paper form, please return it in an envelope or stapled shut.

Your student is important to us and will be treated respectfully, as are all customers. Each qualified student helps the Child Nutrition’s and the school’s budget. Many grants and funds are tied directly to the number of our school’s free & reduced students. So please take a little time and fill out the form on line or on paper if you think your family qualifies. OR save it with your student handbook in case your financial situation changes later in the year.

Applications are accepted throughout the year. Extra forms are available in each school office and in the kitchens. All students who qualify for reduced priced meals will get breakfast at no cost. Please support our breakfast program. Thank you for your support!

Note: If you would like use our online deposit feature, you may do this by visiting www.sendmoneytoschool.com

STATEMENT OF NON DISCRIMINATION – USDA

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter 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; (2) Fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) E-mail: program.intake@usda.gov. This institution is an equal opportunity provider..