Personal checks are accepted at all of the CCIU Buildings and cafeterias. Should a check be returned from the bank for whatever reason, a $25.00 returned check fee will be assessed.

Upon receipt of the returned check, you will be notified and informed that you have ten days to make restitution, including any related fees. Payment for a returned check must be received in the form of cash, cashier's check, or money order. A personal check will not be accepted as repayment for a returned check.

After two returned checks, CCIU will no longer accept checks as a form of payment.

The Chester County Unit recognizes the important link between proper nutrition and academic success. The purpose of this policy is to establish a consistent district procedure for charging meals when students do not have money to pay, preventing meal charges, and ensuring eligible children are certified for free and reduced-price school meals, and be in compliance with Act 55, titled Food Shaming., passed on December 6, 2017.

Charging meals:

Because hunger is an impediment to learning, no child shall be denied a breakfast or lunch because of an inability to pay. Children will be served a meal that meets the U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition standards for school meals:

• A student who request a school meal must be provided with one regardless of whether the student has money.
• A student’s tray is never to be taken away from them after being served due to the student’s inability to pay for the meal or the amount owed.
• A student may only purchase a la carte items if they have a positive account balance. Students are NOT permitted to purchase Ala carte items even if they have money to make the purchase. They MUST pay their negative account balance before any ala carte items are to be sold.
• Students grade 9-12 may discreetly be given their account balance, all other grades will only be given their balance if the student request it.
• Charging by adults is prohibited.
• If you do not wish for your child to have the option of charging meals, then you must contact Vicki Canham at 610-383-5439 or at vickic@cciu.org.

Hand stamps, stickers, or any other means of overt identification of children with unpaid meal debt in the cafeteria or the classroom are prohibited. Additionally, children with unpaid meal debt shall not be required to work off their debt, including, but not limited to, wiping down tables or cleaning the cafeteria.

Preventing meal charges:

• You have the option to view your child’s account by going onto www.schoolcafe.com and receive low balance notifications at no fee. You can set the limit at your discretion. $5.00 would be our recommendation. (you will need your child’s student ID number). If you do not have your child’s student ID number please email Vicki Canham or call 610-383- 5439. You may also make payments on this site, however, there is a 5% fee per deposit.
• You may always send cash or a check made payable to CCIU in an envelope marked with your child’s name, homeroom and ID number.
• Provide all households with school meal applications at the start of the school year and/or include instructions for completing online school meal applications;
• Provide school meal applications in the primary language of the parent or guardian, and help provide assistance with completing an application for any household that requests assistance;
• promptly utilize data provided by the state or other school district officials to certify eligible children without an application; and
• assure that any child for which the school district is not able to obtain a completed school meal application but becomes aware of their eligibility for free or reduced-price school meals shall be certified based on an application submitted by the appropriate school official, as permitted by USDA guidance.

To ensure that households are aware of negative account balances the school nutrition department will:

• Send out weekly balance notices.
• Notify and/or work with principals, school counselors, and/or teachers to understand the student and parent’s situation and if a school meal application is needed;
• Use automated email alerts, or postal mail to notify parents of negative balances

Collecting unpaid meal debt:

Communication regarding unpaid meal debt shall be directed at parents or guardians.

Prior to contacting households regarding unpaid meal debt, the school nutrition staff shall ensure that the student is not participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, or other federal programs, which would confer categorical eligibility for free school meals, or is not homeless, migrant, or in foster care, and would allow them to be certified without an application.

When a student owes for 5 meals, the school nutrition staff will make at least two attempts to reach the parents or guardian. The household will be contacted by email, phone, or letter home to provide information on how to apply for free or reduced-price school meals or to add funds to the school nutrition account. Staff at this time may communicate account balances discreetly with students grade 9 thru 12. All other grade levels, students must ask before the cashier is permitted to give their account balance.

Building Principals will be notified by the food service department of a non-response from the parent/guardian about the negative account and will proceed by direct communication with the parent/guardian. If there is a non-response to the principal, the Chief Financial Officer will be informed and additional collection measures will be pursued.

All debt must be paid off at the end of the school year. Student with a negative lunch account balance at the end of the school year will be considered a student obligation. The policy referenced in your school’s student handbook will now apply to your meal account obligation.

Refunds:

• Donation Request: a request to donate the fund balance to benefit a student in need, or to the Food Service Program, a written request must be submitted. An e-mail request is also acceptable and may be sent to vickic@cciu.org.
• Withdrawn Students: for any student who is withdrawn, a written request for a refund on account balances of $5.00 or greater remaining in their account must be submitted. An e-mail request is also acceptable and may be sent to vickic@cciu.org.
• Graduating Students: for any student who is graduating, a written request for a refund on account balances of $5.00 or greater remaining in their account must be submitted. An e-mail request is also acceptable and may be sent to vickic@cciu.org. Funds can also be transferred to a sibling’s account with a written, e-mail or verbal request.
• Unclaimed Funds: all refunds must be requested within one year. Unclaimed funds will then become the property of the Chester County Intermediate Unit Food Service Program.

On August 24, 2018, the Board of School Directors adopted Procedure 246: Student Wellness. The Board is committed to providing a school environment that promotes student wellness and this policy is based on recommendations of the District Wellness Committee and in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations.

Be a School Wellness Champion. CCIU invites students, parents, board members and members of the community to participate in the development, review, update, and implementation of the CCIU Student Wellness policy. We welcome you to join us at any upcoming meetings to share your opinion and help make sure the policy is meeting the needs of our students.

We are pleased to inform you that Chester County Intermediate Unit will be implementing the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) while participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs.

What does this mean for you and your children attending the school identified below?

Great news! All enrolled students of the Learning Center are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge to your household each day of the school year. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee.

*CCIU will still be requesting applications from households with a student participating in the CEP; however, receipt of free breakfast and lunch meals does not depend on returning it. Completing the application is still necessary for other programs like (leaving CEP approved school/district to a non-CEP school/district, or any program that requires household income eligibility) and may be used to determine if your household is eligible for these additional benefits. You may complete the paper application, or complete an online application on Schoolcafe's website.

Find Summer Meals in Your Community

Summer meals for children and teens are being served in your community. Find a nearby site by completing any of the following actions:

• Call 211 or 1.866.3HUNGRY
• Text "FOOD" or "COMIDA" to 877877
• Download the RangeAPP in Google Play or in the App Store
• Visit the Food and Nutrition website