ARE SCHOOL MEALS HEALTHY?

Collinsville Public School District provides meals that meet the federal requirements and guidelines. The program offers a wide variety of foods and is particularly proud to emphasize locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.

WHAT IS CONSIDERED A LUNCH AND WHAT IS CONSIDERED A LA CARTE?

A “breakfast” is 3 out of the 4 components, in the appropriate amounts. "Lunch" is 3 out of the 5 components in the appropriate amounts. The USDA recognizes Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Meat/Meat Alternates, and Milk as components. Incomplete meals are charged a la carte pricing. Milk is included as part of a meal, but can be purchased a la carte. If students want a second entree or "seconds" they will be charged a la carte pricing of varying cost (.50-3.00).

HOW DO I OPEN A LUNCH ACCOUNT FOR MY STUDENT?

When you enroll your student in school they are automatically issued a Food Services meal account. They are given a six-digit student ID number which they keep throughout their years in the Collinsville Public School District. We use a Bio-metric style system in our food service lines that uses small distinct measurements of internal lines within students fingerprints to identify their ID number when charging meals. Students scan their finger to access their meal account. Each student is encouraged to enroll their index fingers and use the scan system so that students move quickly and efficiently during the meal periods. Families are expected to maintain positive balances on their students' accounts. 

HOW DO I APPLY FOR FREE/REDUCED MEALS?

A NEW Free and Reduced-priced meal application must be completed every school year by a household wishing to obtain free or reduced-priced meals. The current application is located in your Parent Portal through Wengage. Applications are processed at the Child Nutrition office within 10 working days of being received. Parents are encouraged to fill out meal applications as early in the year as possible. Students are charged the full paid price for any meals until an application is processed and approved. Applications may be turned in at any time during a school year to aid families that may have a sudden change in living or financial situations. Households that qualify for free and/or reduced-priced meals will be notified. For those that apply and are denied approval of meal benefits, a letter will be e-mailed to the parent/guardian named in enrollment.

HOW DO I DEPOSIT MONEY INTO THEIR ACCOUNT?

The Child Nutrition Department and the Collinsville Public Schools District provide many convenient options to determine student meal account balance information. Pre-payment of meals is strongly encouraged. Cash, check, or money order is accepted at any school kitchen, by mail, at the enrollment center, or by the secretaries at each school site. Please note: no change will be given in the cafeteria lines, remaining funds after meal charge are deposited into students account. Checks can be written at one school to include all students regardless of location, but which students and how much for each should be clearly stated. Online payment through Sylogist Pay (which can be accessed through your parent portal) offers a convenient and secure credit card payment option that is available for a small fee -- payments through Sylogist Pay are real time deposits into students accounts. Families can access meal account activity, payment documentation, account balances, and Free & Reduced Meal Applications all through the Parent Portal, which you can access from Collinsville Public School's main page. To find out how to obtain a Parent Portal password, please email pportal@collinsville.k12.ok.us. Meal account balances may also be obtained by contacting the Child Nutrition office (918)371-4047 or the Child Nutrition staff at any Collinsville Public School.

WHAT IF I FORGET TO SEND LUNCH MONEY TO SCHOOL?

We encourage all families to keep current on meal accounts. You can view your student's account at any time by logging in to the Parent Portal. If you do not currently have access to the Parent Portal, please email here for a password.

Students may receive up to $15 in charges before their account will put into the negative. As a courtesy, automated phone calls are set up to remind parents when their student’s meal account is low and/or in the negative and is in need of immediate attention. After $15 in charges, the student will be offered an alternate meal of one of our popular lunchables.

We try very hard to end the year balanced and would appreciate all negative charges to be paid by the end of the school year. Account balances (negative and positive) are carried through to the next school year. (With the exception of students that are graduating, negative balances will be transferred to their school fines list).

MY STUDENT HAS A LIFE THREATENING FOOD ALLERGY/NON-LIFE THREATENING FOOD ALLERGY/PHYSICAL DISABILITY; IS THERE ANY WAY CHILD NUTRITION CAN HELP?

Students needing a food substitution due to a disability may complete a Food Allergy or Milk Substitution Form that specifies specific substitutions by a doctor or nurse-practitioner. For food allergies, school nurses and Child Nutrition staff both must have the correct documentation.

WHAT IF I HAVE OTHER QUESTIONS?

Contact us for more information about Free and Reduced applications, meal balance accounts or any Child Nutrition Services questions please contact Emily Garrett at 918-371-4047 or Michell Janah at 918-371-4048.