Nutrition Services

Our nutrition program is integral to our students' education, promoting academic excellence through well-balanced meals. We prioritize local and sustainable procurement, sourcing from emerging farmers to reflect our diverse community's tastes and uphold USDA nutrition guidelines. Crafted by a registered dietitian nutritionist, our menus are thoughtfully designed and presented with care, mirroring restaurant-quality standards.

Mission

We power learning and lifelong health by serving delicious, nourishing meals made with care

Core Values

• No Empty Stomachs: Every child should have access to wholesome meals
• Great Food, Great People: We build a team that’s proud, passionate, and supported.
• Menus with Meaning: We craft our menus with wholesome ingredients and intention
• Service with a Smile: Friendly, helpful, and student-centered
• Meals that Matter: Our food fuels minds and bodies to support development

Our Vision Statement

To serve the next generation food with integrity, so every child in our community thrives 

ALL families with children enrolled in the district should complete an Application for Educational Benefits each year. The 26-27 Application for Educational Benefit will open on July 28th.

Information provided on Applications for Educational Benefits:

• Generates federal funding for schools 
• Determines benefits for students and families such as reduced activity fees, free bus cards, and discounted internet service
• Maximizes federal reimbursement for free school meals 

The Application for Educational Benefits (formerly known as Free and Reduced Lunch Form) can be completed beginning early August at the LINQ Connect Family Portal.

Hard copy applications are available at the district center or can be printed via the link below.

Application for Educational Benefits-English

Application for Educational Benefits-Spanish 

Application for Educational Benefits-Somali

Application for Educational Benefits-Hmong

An eligibility notice letter will arrive via mail or email within 10 business days.

Additional Information:

• One application needed per family each year
• Formerly called the “Free and Reduced Lunch” form
• Income thresholds are higher than in some programs, so many families are surprised to find they DO qualify

The Free School Meals Bill allows one complete breakfast and lunch each school day to each student at no cost. All items outside of the complete meal are considered a la carte purchases. 

All items outside of the complete meal are considered a la carte purchases.   Per our district meal charge policy, elementary students are not able to purchase a la carte items.  Secondary students at FAHS, RAHS and RAMS may purchase the below items if there are sufficient funds in their account. 

Items that would incur a charge:

• Additional cartons of milk
• Second entrée
• A second breakfast or a second lunch
• Meals that do not meet the minimum requirements
• Meals served to teachers, staff, and other adults 

Payments can be made online through the LINQ Connect Family Portal.

• How to Create a LINQ Connect Account
• How to Add a Student
• How to Add Funds

There is a convenience fee added to all payments made in LINQ.

To avoid the convenience fee, you can pay with cash or check.

• CASH: Please write the child’s name, PIN number, and amount on the outside of the envelope
• CHECK: Please make sure to include your child’s name and PIN number on the memo line of your check 

If your children attend the same school building, the amount of the check can be divided among accounts. Be sure to note each child’s PIN and amount for each child in the memo line of the check. If your children are at different schools, separate checks are needed. 

If a check is returned for insufficient funds, you will be required to pay cash.

Families  and staff are encouraged to regularly monitor their meal account activity through our online payment system (LINQconnect.com). Please note that any adjustments or corrections to account transactions must be requested by the 7th of the following month. After this date, no changes will be made to past transactions.

Families may request a student meal account refund or donate money to the Nutrition Services "Angel Fund," which helps students who are still hungry after their first and request extra food but cannot afford to buy additional meals. If you would like to do a student meal account transfer, you can do so by completing the form below.

Note: School meals will be free beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. However, meal accounts will still be used for students who wish to purchase food beyond the first free meal.

Families  and staff are encouraged to regularly monitor their meal account activity through our online payment system (LINQconnect.com). Please note that any adjustments or corrections to account transactions must be requested by the 7th of the following month. After this date, no changes will be made to past transactions.

To better serve students with food allergie, all students requesting a special diet meal will receive a pre-made meal that is free from the Top 9 major food allergens. These meals provide a safe, nutritious, and consistent option for students across all of our schools.

The special diet menu is  available on your school's LINQ menu page. It is titled "Top 9 Allergen Free." This new approach helps ensure consistent meal quality district-wide while reducing the risk of cross-contact during meal preparation in school kitchens.

Guardians must request special diet accommodations using this form.

CLICK HERE to complete a Special Diet Statement

A special diet statement MUST:

• Contain the following information in order to be considered complete:
  • Food or allergen to be avoided
  • Explanation of how exposure would affect the participant
  • Foods to be substituted
• Be completed and signed by one of the following state-licensed medical authorities:
  • Physician
  • Physician Assistant
  • Advanced Practice Care Nurse, such as a Nurse Practitioner

*NOTE: If the child’s IEP or 504 Plan includes the same information that is required in a Special Diet Statement, it is not necessary for the school to obtain a separate Special Diet Statement.

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)

More information can be found here:

• Accommodating Children with Disabilities in School Meal Programs (USDA Guide)
• Accommodating Children with Disabilities in School Meal Programs Questions and Answers (USDA memo SP-26-2017)

Allergen and Ingredient Information
All allergens and ingredient details for our school meals are available on our online menus. Families can easily view this information and filter menu items based on specific allergens or dietary needs.
Use the links below for step-by-step instructions on how to filter for allergens and ingredients.

How to View Allergens on our Online Menu 

Cómo Consultar Los Alérgenos En Nuestro Menú En Línea

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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 (CLICK HERE), 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.