Limited restrictions for students with negative accounts
Students with negative balances will only be allowed to charge regular meals each day (every student eats), and they will be prohibited from purchasing items such as snacks, drinks or extra entrees.
Please note that FASD ensures that every students is able to eat a full nutritional meal regardless of their account balance and will not engage in “lunch shaming” as defined in various news articles and recent legislation. It is the obligation of the parent or guardian to ensure each student account is properly funded throughout the year.
Per federal regulations, a regular lunch contains at least three out of five components: fruit, vegetable (at least one selection must be a fruit or vegetable), a protein, a whole grain, and a milk. A regular breakfast contains an entree (an entree contains either two grains or a grain paired with protein) plus one other component which is: a fruit/vegetable/juice or milk. If your students are charging a meal with a negative balance, the cashiers will assist your students to ensure they are taking a regular meal with no extras.
If you have a negative account, please make a payment to correct your negative balance immediately.
Payments can be made online at www.schoolcafe.com by credit card (5% fee applies) or by check made out to "Freeport Area Food Service Fund" and clearly label your student's name and ID number (if known) on the check. Checks may be sent in with your child while school is in session or at all times payments can be sent in the mail to:
Freeport Area School District
Attn: Food Service Payment
625 S. Pike Road
Sarver, Pa 16055
Unable to Pay
If you are unable to pay, you must apply for free and reduced meal benefits at www.schoolcafe.com or by submitting a paper application available to obtain and submit at the District Office located at 621 S. Pike Road, Sarver, PA 16055. The application process only takes a few minutes. Newly approved applications will only apply to future purchases of regular meals. Payment plans to pay off existing balances may also be set up by contacting the Food Service Director using the contact information below. You must make payment on the plan before August 15th to be eligible.
If you have any questions regarding your food service account, please contact Cassie Mielke, the Food Service Director, via email at mielke@freeport.k12.pa.us or by phone at 724-295-5143 ext. 1252.
Collections Process
Every August 15th all unpaid cafeteria balances of $25 or greater will be placed with a collection agency and may appear on your credit report. In the event an unpaid balance is placed with a third party collector, all collection fees or costs incurred will be added to the total amount due and will be the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Such costs/fees include but are not limited to collection fees or commissions, attorney fees, court costs and accrued interest.
In the event your lunch debt is sent to a collection agency, you will be contacted by:
Creditech
PO Box 99 or 50 North 7th St.
Bangor, PA 18013-1798
Delinquent Accounts: 1-866-300-1721
Summer Grace Period
Parents/guardians with unpaid cafeteria balances from the prior school year have a great opportunity each summer to pay their lunch debt off while additional charges are not accruing. All balances paid prior to August 15th will not incur any collections fees or be sent to a collection agency. Payments can be made online through
schoolcafe.com or can be sent by check to:
Freeport Area School District
Attn: Food Service Payment
625 S. Pike Road
Sarver, Pa 16055