In the 2018-2019 school year, all Decatur County schools will continue to participate in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP).  This program, through the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010, allows breakfast and lunch to be offered to all enrolled students at no charge.  By participating in CEP the schools eliminate the need for paper meal applications.  Adults will still pay for their meals at the rate of $1.75 for breakfast and $3.75 for lunch.

The Decatur County School Nutrition Program invites and encourages all students and adults to “Eat Healthy the BEARCAT Way!” by participating in their school meal program. During the 2017-18 school year, the School Nutrition Program served 561,632 nutritious breakfasts, 743,893 healthy lunches and 33,866 afterschool snacks to students at all schools.  Our program provides meals that are healthy and meet the current United States Department of Agricultural school meal pattern guidelines.  We participate in the Farm to School program by serving and promoting locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.  In addition, we have the Offer vs. Serve option where the student may select up to five food items; or according to USDA regulations, at least three food items must be taken for a complete meal. This meal also includes either ½-cup fruit or vegetable with each lunch and breakfast.  The purpose in the offer vs. serve program is to allow students to choose foods they enjoy and will eat so the food is not wasted.

The school system will still use student identification numbers to track student meals.  Parents can still pre-pay or put money on their child’s account if the child would like to purchase bottled water or an extra portion of food at mealtime. Please be sure to provide the child’s name, homeroom teacher’s name and student PIN on the outside of the envelope in which you send the prepayment.  An online payment system is also available at www.Schoolcafe.com.  Parents may also use the same site to open a free account to monitor their child’s account balance and receive low balance alerts.

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed, disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.