Child Nutrition

Visit Nutrislice to see our breakfast and lunch menus. The interactive menus provide pictures, nutritional information, allergens and brief descriptions of all menu options. For on-the-go convenience, download the Nutrislice app to your iPhone or Android device. For hands-free convenience, ask Alexa or Echo, “What is the lunch menu for [Name of School]?”

We ask for your flexibility as we work with our vendors and staff as we adapt to new menus and serving changes. Many of our vendors and distributors are experiencing product or staffing shortages that result in last-minute changes to our menus.

MyPaymentsPlus

Orono’s program uses a computerized system that allows students to electronically purchase a meal. A personal account is established with four-digit PIN number for each student in the district. When a student makes a purchase, the purchase is directly deducted from their account balance. Account balance, purchase history, low balance reminders and autopay features are available on MyPaymentsPlus. We highly recommend that families set up low balance reminders and autopayments to ensure students are not left with a negative balance.  

We encourage all families to establish a MyPaymentsPlus account and use this method for meal payments. Payments are deposited into meal accounts within hours and tracking meal purchases is easy. Online meal payments do include a 3.95% transaction fee. If you would rather not pay this fee, you have the option to pay by cash or check.

Paying by cash or check

If you prefer to pay by cash or check, please drop off payments in the designated mailboxes located near the main entrances. (The mailbox at Orono Middle School is located in the cafeteria.) Checks may be made payable to "Orono Schools." Please write the four-digit PIN number and student name in the check memo section to ensure accuracy. Cash or check deposits will be done twice a week.

Updated 6/29/2022

I. Purpose

The purpose of this procedure is to provide guidelines for all Child Nutrition payments throughout the district.

II. General Statement of Policy

The school district recognizes that proper nutrition intake is vital in the learning process. The district strives to provide access to programs and services in an efficient and fiscally responsible manner.

III. Food Service Student Meal Accounts

A. Student Accounts

1. Students may purchase meals when funds have been deposited into their accounts.
2. Each student will have his/her own meal account and PIN number and will confirm they have entered the correct number at the register by stating their name to the cashier.
3. Cash or check is not accepted at the register. For parents that are visiting, they are to be with their child at the point of purchase and use their student’s meal account.
4. Money should be deposited online via MyPaymentsPlus for the most efficient transaction. The District recommends setting up an auto-replenishment to each student’s FeePay account to prevent negative balances. Other payment methods may be accepted on a case by case basis.

B. Free & Reduced Meals (Educational Benefits)

1. Families may apply for Free and Reduced meals at any time during the year.
2. Applications for Free and Reduced meals are available prior to the beginning of the school year at all of the district schools and on the district webpage.
3. Families applying for Free and Reduced meals must pay for meals until notification of approval. There is no retroactive approvals of free or reduced benefits.
4. Families who qualify for Free and Reduced meals will be allowed to receive these benefits for up to 30 days into the next school year. A new application must be submitted to continue receiving Free and Reduced benefits each school year.

C. Student Account Status, Notification, and Collection

1. Students will be allowed to charge to their accounts until they are overdrawn and into the negative. Once an account is negative, students will be able to receive reimbursable meals but not partial meals or ala carte items.
2. District staff will attempt to personally connect with families when negative accounts persist.
3. Full Paid students with a low balance will receive a verbal reminder at the register.
   • Low balance for a Full Paid Student is $0-$5 and will be told “you have a low balance, please remind your parent/guardian”
   • Low balance for a Free/Reduced Students do not currently have a limit set as they should receive all reimbursable meals for free.
4. All students with a negative balance will receive verbal and/or written notifications.
   • The notification will be consistent with every student or staff member and will not demean or stigmatize the child.
   • Students with any negative balance will be notified by the cashier, “You have a negative balance, please remind your parent/guardian.”
   • Students with any negative balance will have email notifications sent to their parent/guardian twice a week.
   • Students with a balance larger than $-10.00 will have the school counselor, principal, or social worker notified. The school staff member will reach out to the family for assistance.
   • Students with a balance larger than $-20.00 will have weekly phone calls made to the families to set up a payment plan.
   • Students with a balance larger than $-75.00 will have a final demand letter and invoice sent to their homes. Failure to pay or respond to the invoice will show failure to act on the situation and the account may be sent to collections.
5. Seniors with negative balances or extra funds in their account.
   • If a Senior has siblings in the district, we will automatically transfer remaining funds into their sibling’s account.
   • For Seniors with a balance of $10 or greater, a letter will be sent to the families with two options:
     • Submit a request for reimbursement of the remaining funds
     • Donate remaining funds to a District Angel account to help let fortunate families.
     • All balances of $10.00 or less will be donated to the district’s Angel account.

IV. Staff Meal Accounts

All staff accounts must operate with a positive balance at all times. Failure to keep a positive balance may result in denied meals and purchases. If problems persist with staff abusing their account it will be brought to the attention of their supervisor. All staff are encouraged to set up a MyPaymentsPlus account to make meal payments.

We highly encourage families to apply for free & reduced meals/educational benefits in order to receive free or reduced priced lunches as well as other discounts such as sports and activity scholarships, community education activities, and internet services. One application is needed per household per year. Benefits are not retroactive so we encourage families to fill out an application as soon as they can.  If you are in need of an application in a language other than English or Spanish please contact us. 

Students eligible for benefits follow the same procedures as full-pay students. Orono Schools maintains complete confidentiality regarding a student’s eligibility status. Our meal program will provide students eligible for benefits with one full breakfast and one full lunch per day at no charge. To be considered a full meal, a student must select a minimum of three out of the five meal components offered (one of those must be a fruit or vegetable).

Students eligible for the reduced program will follow the same procedure as those with free eligibility.

All a la carte purchases or incomplete meals are NOT covered by free/reduced benefits; those purchases are charged to a student’s meal account. Students must have money in their meal account to make additional purchases. Please read our Meal Charge Policy for more information.

Application for Educational Benefits 2022-2023 (English) 

Solicitud para Alimentos Gratis del Año Escolar 2022-2023

A special dietary need is when a student has a disability to food due to a diagnosed allergy, intolerance, disease or medical condition. A signed doctor’s note is required before any menu accommodations can be made. Lactose intolerance is the only exception in which a signed note from a parent is accepted. Orono Child Nutrition personnel work with our district nurse to obtain proper documentation before meeting dietary requests to ensure the safety of students.  Please turn in all request forms to the school nurse. 

Special Dietary Needs Form

Lactose Intolerance Form

In addition to school meals, we offer a selection of a la carte items for students.  Ala carte items can be purchased when a student has a positive balance in their meal account.  We encourage families with regular ala carte spending to set up autopayments in MyPaymentsPlus to ensure that the accounts are funded. Purchases can be tracked by looking at the purchase history in MyPaymentsPlus. We encourage families to have conversations with their students to set their own guidelines for spending.

Orono Middle School Ala Carte Pricing

Orono High School Ala Carte Pricing

Starting in School Year 2023-2024, school breakfast and lunch meals will be fully funded for all students in Minnesota.  Providing free, healthy school meals to everyone is an incredible opportunity for our communities.  Free meals will consist of one breakfast and one lunch per school day.  Meals must include a minimum of 1/2 c. fruit or vegetables and a minimum of 3 meal components to be considered a meal.  Additional a la carte items will be available for purchase.  

Our meal program and style of service will likely remain very similar to this year's current offerings.   We will continue to feature a "Harvest of the Month",  serve fresh produce daily, and feature a global themed meals on rotation.   Our goal is to continue to serve fresh, nutritious, well-balanced meals.   

We still encourage families to apply for Educational Benefits if they think they might qualify.   Educational Benefits extend beyond free meals and includes sports and activity scholarships, discounted internet service, and so much more.    Benefit information is kept confidential and requires annual renewal.