Food Services
Des Moines Public Schools Food and Nutrition Services Department serves approximately 30,000 meals daily in our school nutrition services program. School meals are planned to reflect the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. We strive to provide a nutritious breakfast and lunch for all students at an affordable cost. We encourage children to develop good eating habits.
Menus are published on http://dmschools.nutrislice.com/
Families pay for school meals using myschoolbucks.com or call 515.242.7636 for more options.
Free and Reduced-Price Meals
Families who earn less than 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals and those with incomes between 130 and 185 percent of poverty level qualify for reduced-price meals. In the Des Moines Schools, approximately 60 percent of the student enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price meals. The prices for a paid breakfast and lunch are approved by the School board and the price of a reduced-price meal is established by the federal government.
To determine your eligibility for free or reduced-price meals, please read the guidelines and complete the application at www.applyforlunch.com/Application. For more information about the application process, call 515.242.7636.
As the student goes through the lunch line he/she will enter their account number to purchase their meal. Students will be reminded by the cashier when their account balance falls below $5. Parents/Guardians are encouraged to maintain a positive account balance.
Des Moines Independent Community School District Negative Meal Balance Procedure
Negative balance messages are sent out twice/week by email and once/week by phone.
ADULTS
- Adults will not be allowed to charge meals or a la carte items.
- Adults must have cash or money in their account to make a purchase.
- Adults will be notified of their balance verbally at the cash register when their balance falls below $3.55 (not enough to cover the next adult meal).
ALL SCHOOLS
- Students who qualify for free meals shall never be denied a reimbursable meal, even if they have accrued a negative balance from previous purchases. Students with outstanding debt that exceeds the allowable negative balance shall be allowed to purchase a meal if the student pays for the meal when it is received.
- Parents and legal guardians can sign up for email notifications of when meal balances fall below a threshold set by the parents or legal guardians. More information can be found at: https://www.dmschools.org/departments/operations/food-nutrition/pay-for-school-meals-online/
HIGH SCHOOL
- Student balances will be limited to negative $5 until the balance is paid in full.
- Students will not be allowed to charge meals if the loan balance is below negative $5.
- An alternative meal is not provided.
- Students that receive reduced price meals will receive a reimbursable lunch at $0.40 even if their balance exceeds negative $5. Students that receive reduced price meals will receive a reimbursable breakfast at no cost.
- Students must have cash or money in their account to purchase a la carte items.
- Parents will be notified weekly by email for any negative balance and a phone call if the student’s account balance falls below negative $5. This contact is made from the Food & Nutrition Central Office.
- Students will be notified of their balance verbally at the cash register when their balance falls below $5.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Student balances will be limited to negative $15 until the balance is paid in full.
- Students who do not qualify for free or reduced prices meals will receive an alternative breakfast and/or lunch of a cheese sandwich and carton of milk when the loan balance exceeds negative $15. Their account will be charged $1.50 per alternative meal.
- Food Service Staff will call parents or legal guardians the first day the child’s meal is altered and weekly thereafter if the incidence continues.
- The alternative breakfast and lunch are available as a part of a reimbursable meal for all students if requested.
- Students that receive reduced price meals will receive a reimbursable lunch at $0.40 even if their balance exceeds negative $15. Students that receive reduced price meals will receive a reimbursable breakfast at no cost.
- Students must have cash or money in their account to purchase a la carte items.
- Parents will be notified by email for any negative balance and a phone call if the student’s account balance falls below negative $5. This contact is made from the Food & Nutrition Central Office.
- Students will be notified of their balance verbally at the cash register when their balance falls below $5.