6700.1P: Nutrition Services School Meal Charge Procedure

The goal of the Bellevue School District Nutrition Services Department is to provide students with healthy, nutritious meal options each school day. Therefore, it is our practice to allow students to debit or “charge” their school meal account for the purchase of a complete breakfast or lunch when their account shows insufficient funds. The district communicates this meal charge procedure to households each year so that school district employees, families and students have a shared understanding of expectations regarding meal charges.

Full Pay Students

Families are expected to provide money for student meal accounts on a regular and consistent basis. Payment can be made either in person at the school through check or cash or via the web at www.paypams.com. Ala carte items, including milk only, cannot be purchased without sufficient funds in a school meal account.

Reduced Price Meal Benefit Students

Students eligible for reduced priced school meals will receive a breakfast (in schools where breakfast is served) and lunch at no cost. The $.30 copay for breakfast and $.40 copay for lunch that would normally have been collected, will be provided to the department through increased state funding. Ala carte items, including milk only, cannot be purchased without sufficient funds in a school meal account.

Free Meal Benefit Students

Students eligible for free school meals will receive a breakfast (in schools where breakfast is served) and lunch at no cost. Ala carte items, including milk only, cannot be purchased without sufficient funds in a school meal account.

Student Meal Account Balances

The District will make reasonable efforts to collect unpaid meal charges and will coordinate communications (through email, phone calls, letters or the use of an automated calling system) with families to resolve the charges. 

Meal Account Balances

Meal account balances (positive and negative) for a student will be carried over to next school year. If a student is graduating or withdrawing, a written request for a refund or transfer of funds to a sibling, may be submitted. Alternatively, a family may donate their student’s remaining balance to the Sunshine Fund to cover other students’ negative balances. Unclaimed funds are turned over annually to the Washington State Department of Revenue.