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Godley Independent School District - Empowering Students

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Policies and Procedures

Method of Payment

There are three (3) methods to add funds to your student's lunch account:

We recommend that payments be made in advance to eliminate your child from having to bring money to school daily.

Payment for a child's meals is the responsibility of the parent. We take every step possible to try to make it easy for parents to stay informed about their child's account balance and to make payments. Parents may prepay for their child's meals with a check or cash at ANY campus. Parents may also pay using a credit card through Family Access. Students may prepay for their meals before school, or they may pay for their meal at the time of service. We accept cash or check payments at any of the school cafeterias.

Free and Reduced Meals

If you have applied for free or reduced-priced meals and have a pending application, you must pay for all school meals until you receive an Approval Letter. We receive hundreds of applications each year, and we work hard to process them as fast as possible. It, however, may take up to thirteen days to begin receiving benefits after the application is received by the Child Nutrition Department.

Because of the time it takes to process applications, students who were free or reduced in the previous year remain at their previous year’s status for the first thirty days of the new school year or until a new application is received and processed. Once a new application is processed the new status takes over, so if a child was free last year, and an application is processed in the second week of school that qualifies the student for reduced meals, the student’s status will be changed to reduced status on the date that the application is processed and not at the end of the thirty day period.

Students who do not turn in an application that can be processed within this thirty-day window will roll over to paid status and will be responsible for paying for all meals consumed. For this reason, it is very important for parents who feel that they may qualify for free lunches to complete and return an application promptly at the beginning of each school year. Students who do not qualify for free meals may instead qualify for reduced-priced meals. 

Please do not put anyone at the school in the position of having to deny your child a meal – NO ONE wants to do that! If you make sure your child has adequate funds in their account, this can be avoided. Thank you. 

Applications are available at all campus offices and cafeterias.

Meal Charges

Godley ISD knows that sometimes children forget their lunch money or do not remember to let parents know they need money on their accounts. Sometimes life is so busy for parents that they just simply forget to check their child’s account balance. We now have a plan to ensure that your child will receive a hot, regular, complete meal when your child’s account is low or negative.

Local Meal Charge Policy

Students enrolled at Godley ISD will be allowed to charge up to $25 for complete meals only, but will not be allowed to buy or charge a la carte items. A complete meal consists of at least 3 of the 5 components offered, one of which must be a fruit or vegetable. Many times our entrees are 2 components (meat and grain).

Each week the Child Nutrition Department will send out negative balance notices for Primary Students. Secondary students are informed of low account balances when they make purchases. Family Access in Skyward allows parents to receive low balance emails. When a student has charged for three consecutive days, cafeteria managers will contact parents and A Free & Reduced Application will be sent home. We will make every attempt to notify parents of low balances to reduce charges. We ask that you make every attempt to reconcile your child’s account as soon as possible. If necessary, we will accept partial payments. If a student must charge, we will let the child know when they purchase the meal. In the event a student’s charges are not paid, Godley ISD may choose to not allow students to attend extracurricular field trips, athletic events etc.. until the charge is paid. This debt will remain on the student’s account throughout the child’s enrollment at Godley ISD.

If at any time your household is experiencing an economic need, either long term or temporary, please call the Child Nutrition Department for a confidential inquiry. We may be able to help.

Remember for your convenience you can always pay online through Skyward Family Access, at all campus cafeterias & main offices during school days.

If you have any questions, contact the Food Service Department at (817) 592-4230.

Special Dietary Needs

Students with any special dietary needs must have a medical authority’s statement on file with the food service department. All previous accommodations our district has done in the past will no longer be honored until we have a signed statement from an acceptable recognized medical  authority. The medical authority must identify the condition, how it affects a major life activity, what food items are to be omitted and what foods are to be substituted. 

The Special Dietary Order Form must be used.

This form must be renewed every school year.

We will no longer accept a handwritten note from a parent. Acceptable recognized medical authorities are: Physician (Dr.), Physician’s Assistant (PA), or Advanced Practice Nurse (APN).

Miscellaneous

Accounts

Student’s accounts are for their use only.  Monies applied to the accounts are available for purchases at all points of sale.  Once money is applied to an account, it cannot be refunded unless a student withdraws from school or graduates.  
We do not cash checks for any reason.

Payment Options

Parents may prepay for their child's meals with a check or cash at each cafeteria. Parents may also pay using a credit card through Family Access.  Students may prepay for their meals before school, or they may pay for their meal at the time of service.

Refunds

For any student who is withdrawn or graduating, a written request for a refund of any money remaining in their account must be submitted to the Child Nutrition office in order for a refund to be issued. The letter must be from the child’s parent/guardian. The letter must request the refund, list the child’s full name and date of birth, and list the address where the refund is to be mailed. 

Returned Checks

Per the Godley ISD Financial Policy Manual  In the event that a check written to any Godley ISD campus, club, or organization is returned unpaid by the bank, Godley ISD or its agent (CheckSmart) will redeposit the check electronically.  Additionally, a returned check fee of $25 plus applicable sales tax will also be made electronically.

Unclaimed Funds

All refunds must be requested within one year. Unclaimed funds will then become the property of the Godley ISD Child Nutrition Department.