Dear
Cherokee Families:
I
want to let you know about a change Springfield Public Schools is making that
will affect student lunch charges in the future. Due to increasing balances in
unpaid lunch charges, SPS will implement a new charge policy, effective
Monday, Feb. 4.
From
that date forward, elementary school students who do not have money to pay for
their lunch will be allowed to charge lunch two times; middle and high school
students will be allowed to charge lunch one time. The current practice of no breakfast charges
will continue.
After
charging the maximum lunches allowed, students will be provided a deli lunch,
which includes a fruit, a vegetable and a protein. Students may not receive a
regular hot lunch until they have paid off their outstanding lunch charges.
We
know how important a nutritious lunch is for students and it is our desire to
provide a hot lunch to every child who wants one. However, unpaid lunch charges
have become excessive and we cannot continue to absorb these costs.
If
your child is in a position where he or she must frequently charge lunch,
please remember the following:
1.
Your
child may be eligible to receive free or reduced price meals at school if your
family meets certain income guidelines. Please consider filling out the
application to determine your eligibility. Applications are available in every
school office or can be completed online at the following link: https://horizon.sps.k12.mo.us.
2.
It
is easy to add money to your student’s lunch account using the online service
MealpayPlus. For a small fee,
MealpayPlus accepts MasterCard and VISA credit cards; or you may make
an electronic debit from your checking or savings
account.
3.
If
your financial situation has temporarily changed due to family illness,
unemployment or other unforeseen circumstance, please let me
know. There may be community resources available to temporarily pay the cost of
your child’s lunch until you can make other arrangements.
If
you have additional questions please contact me or call our nutrition services
department.
Thank
you for working with us to ensure that your child continues to receive a hot
lunch and for your assistance in helping us control costs.
Sincerely,
Bill Powers
Principal
Cherokee
Middle School
