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                                            UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT FOOD & NUTRITION SERVICES

It is the purpose of the Union School District Food Services Department to provide nutritious food 
to students at an affordable cost; to encourage the child to develop good eating habits and to 
serve high quality, nutritious food that meets or exceeds federally mandated guidelines.

BREAKFAST
Our goal is to encourage students to get a nutritious start to their day. Those who eat breakfast 
regularly have been shown to less likely develop diabetes or to become obese. Studies have also 
shown that in schools where breakfast is served, students are better prepared for learning. They 
are more enthused to start class, show improved behavior, experience reduced visits to the nurse 
and show a general increase in composite math and reading percentile scores. Our breakfast is 
available at all schools. Please encourage your child(ren) to participate.

LUNCH
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers the 
Child Nutrition Program in cooperation with State agencies and the Local Education Authorities 
(LEAs). Together they work to achieve the goal of safeguarding the health and well-being of the 
nation’s children. All children of high school and under in public and nonprofit private schools 
are eligible to participate. To administer the programs, FNS works directly with State Departments 
of Education and they enter into agreements with the LEAs. To participate in the Child Nutrition 
Programs, Union R-XI School District must agree to:

•     Operate the food service program for all students without regard to race, color, national 
origin, age sex or disability.
•     Provide free or reduced-price meals to children unable to pay the full price as determined by 
local authorities following USDA guidelines. Such children may not be identified, nor discriminated 
in any way.
•     Serve meals that meet the nutritional standards established by the Secretary of Agriculture.
•     Comply with all federal and state regulations regarding administration of the respective 
Child Nutrition Program.

The program offers financial assistance for each lunch served to children and additional financial 
assistance for each lunch served free or at a reduced price to eligible children. To receive 
federal assistance, the district must serve nutritious lunches that comply with the Dietary 
Guidelines for Americans.

Union R-XI School District uses Nutrient Standard Menu Planning. It is a method to develop menus 
based upon an analysis for nutrients in the menu food items offered over a school week to determine 
if specific levels for a set of key nutrients and calories were met. The district conducts nutrient 
analysis on all menu foods offered as part of the reimbursable meal sold by the Food Service 
Department.

FREE/REDUCED ELIGIBILITY

All schools participating in the Federally Assisted National School Lunch and School Breakfast 
Programs must make available free and reduced-price lunches and breakfasts.

ase to notify the public of the availability of the school
nutrition programs and the eligibility criteria for free and reduced priced meals.

A letter to parents containing the Income Eligibility Guidelines along with an application will be 
mailed prior to the beginning of school. Applications may also be obtained at all school offices or 
the Food Service Department.

LUNCH ACCOUNTS/POINT OF SALE SYSTEM

Union School District uses a computerized Point of Sale (POS) System. A Point of Sale System is a 
computerized system that works similar to a debit card system. Here is how it works:

•    All students enrolled in the district are entered into a computerized database, all 
information entered into the database is kept confidential by a series of secure passwords and 
codes.

•    Union R-XI School District uses a biometric finger scanning identification program in an 
effort to provide security for your child’s cafeteria account, eliminate clerical errors, and 
provide students an easy way to identify themselves to decrease time spent in the lunch line. It 
does not store a copy of the fingerprints. Instead, the software creates a template of the unique 
fingerprint characteristics. A lunch card with the child’s name, picture and a bar code to scan 
will be provided to students whose parents do not wish to enroll in the biometric system.

•    Union R-XI School District now offers MySchoolBucks.com, a convenient online service that 
allows you to securely pay for your student’s meals online using your credit/debit card or 
electronic check. When you register you will have access to your students’ lunch account, you will 
be able to set up automatic payments, track and review meal transactions, create low balance alerts 
and there is a mobile app you can download to make it even more accessible.

•    Parents may send checks with their students to pay for meals.  Checks should be placed in an 
envelope with the student's name, grade and the amount of money enclosed. All checks should be made 
payable to the school at which the student attends. The district discourages sending cash, it is 
not able to be tracked. If sending cash, please send in a sealed envelope with students’ name, 
teacher, enclosed amount and what payment is for i.e. meals.

•    When the cashier receives the payment, they will add to the students’ lunch account.

•    During breakfast and lunch the students will go through the meal line, proceed to the cashier 
and scan their finger or their lunch card, the student must have their card with them even if they 
are paying with cash.

•    The value of the transaction is then deducted from the student’s account in the same manner as 
using a debit card would be.  It’s that simple!

The system features many advantages to both parents and students. Parents will have the ability to 
monitor their child(ren)’s eating habits and spending by requesting Student Account Reports. With 
the POS System, parents do not need to worry about giving their child lunch money on a daily basis 
and can place as much money in their child’s lunch account as they wish. Students will spend less 
time waiting in lines at the register.

DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SERVICES DISTRICT WELLNESS PROGRAM

The Board recognizes the relationship between student well-being and student achievements as well 
as the importance of a comprehensive district wellness program. Therefore, the district will 
provide developmentally appropriate and sequential nutrition and physical education as well as 
opportunities for physical activity. The wellness program will be implemented in a 
multidisciplinary fashion and will be evidence based.

Wellness Committee

Per the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, section 204, P.L. 108-265, the Union 
R- XI School District has established a Health Advisory/Wellness committee that consists of at 
least one (1): parent, student, nurse, school food service representative, Board member, school 
administrator, member of the public, and other community members as appropriate. If available, a 
qualified, credentialed nutrition professional will be a member of the wellness committee. The 
Board designates the following individual(s) as wellness program coordinator(s): Mike Mabe, 
Director of Facilities, Kristi Gerling, Supervisor of District Health Services, and Mike Mabe, 
Supervisor of Food Service. Only employees of the district who are members of the wellness 
committee may serve as wellness program coordinators. Wellness coordinators, in consultation with 
the wellness committee, will be in charge of implementation and evaluation of this policy. 
Meetings, records and votes of the wellness committee will adhere to the requirements of the 
Missouri Sunshine Law.

NUTRITION GUIDELINES

The district designates the following nutrition guidelines, based on the Missouri Eat Smart 
Nutrition Guidelines, for foods and beverages served in schools during the school day:

School Breakfast

All school meals comply with USDA regulations and state policies and at least 50% of cereals 
offered contain no more than 35% of weight from sugar per serving. Foods containing whole grains 
are offered one- (1) day a week. Fresh, canned, dried or frozen fruits or vegetables are offered at 
least three-(3) days per week. At least one of the following will be offered daily: Low fat (1%, 
½%) or Skim (nonfat) milk.

School Lunch

All school meals comply with USDA regulations and state policies and a main dish with total fat <16 
g. per serving is offered at least 3 times a week. Dark green or orange vegetables or fruits are 
offered 1 time a week. Fresh fruits or raw vegetables are offered 1 to 3 times a week. A food item 
containing whole grains is offered at least one time a week. At least one of the following will be 
offered daily: Low fat (1%, ½%) or Skim (nonfat) milk. Reduced fat and/or fat free salad dressing 
are offered.

Ala Carte Food Items

Ala Carte items comply with USDA regulations prohibiting the sale of “foods of minimal nutritional 
value” where school meals are served or eaten during the meal period. Ala Carte main dishes are 
comparable in portion sizes to any food item served in the National School Lunch Program or School 
Breakfast Program. Include Fruits, Vegetables and/or Yogurt, and at least 50% of items offered meet 
all of the following criteria per serving: Fat – Except for nuts, seeds and nut butters, not more 
than 35% of total calories from fat.

Ala Carte Beverage Items

Ala Carte items comply with USDA regulations prohibiting the sale of “foods of minimal nutritional 
value” where school meals are served or eaten during the meal period. Ala Carte beverages include 
the following: Water, Milk & 50-100% juice.

Food Items Sold in Vending Machines and School Stores

The sale of Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value will not be allowed on school property in areas 
accessible to students during school hours. In elementary and middle school sales of these items 
will not be allowed until after the end of the school day. In high schools, not until one hour 
after the end of the last lunch period as pertains to the sale of Other Vended Food. At least 50% 
of items offered must be no more than 35% of total calories from fat, except for nuts, seeds and 
nut butters.

Beverage Items Sold in Vending Machines and School Stores

All vended foods and beverages are sold in compliance with USDA regulations which prohibit the sale 
of “Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value” in areas where school meals are served or eaten during the 
meal period. At least 50% of items offered in Vending Machines and School Stores must include 
water, milk and/or 50-100% juice.

After School Programs

“Snack” means 2 or more items that are served as a unit. If served under the USDA After-School 
Snack Program, the food items comply with all applicable federal regulations and state policies. On 
at least 3 days of the week, snacks meet the following standards: Fat, not more than 35% of total 
calories from fat except for cheese, nuts, seeds and nut butters. Sugar, not more than 35% of 
weight from sugar, except for fruit (without added sugar), 100% juice and milk.

Rewards

All foods and beverages are offered in compliance with USDA regulations prohibiting the sale of 
“foods of minimal nutritional value” where school meals are served or eaten during the meal period. 
Union R-XI School District strongly encourages not using food or beverages as rewards in the 
classroom.

Celebrations and Classroom Parties

All foods and beverages are offered in compliance with USDA regulations prohibiting the sale of 
“foods of minimal nutritional value” where school meals are served or eaten during the meal period. 
Union R-XI School District strongly encourages limiting the frequency of events, scheduling such 
events after the lunch period and suggesting appropriate types of foods and beverages available.

Fundraisers

Union R-XI School District strongly encourages fundraising activities be supportive of physical 
activity and healthy eating.

NUTRITION EDUCATION

The District’s nutrition education goal is to integrate sequential nutrition education with the 
comprehensive health education program and, to the extent possible, the core curriculum taught at every grade level in order to provide students with the necessary knowledge and skills to make 
healthy nutrition decisions. In order to achieve the nutrition education goal, the district will

1. Provide students at all grade levels with adequate nutritional knowledge including, but not 
limited to:

•     The benefits of healthy eating
•     Essential nutrients
•     Nutritional deficiencies
•     Principles of healthy weight management
•     The use and misuse of dietary supplements
•     Safe food preparation, handling and storage

2. Provide students with nutrition related skills that minimally include the ability to:

•     Plan healthy meals
•     Understand and use food tables
•     Apply the principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) and MyPyramid
•     Critically evaluate nutrition information, misinformation and commercial food advertising
•      Assess personal eating habits, nutritional goal-setting and achievement

3. Provide instructional activities that stress the appealing aspects of healthy eating and are 
hands- on, behavior based, culturally relevant, developmentally appropriate and enjoyable. Examples 
of activities include, but are not limited to: good preparation, contests, promotion, taste 
testings, farm visits and school gardens.

4. Encourage district staff to cooperate with local agencies and community groups to provide 
students with opportunities for volunteer work related to nutrition, such as food banks, soup 
kitchens or after- school programs.

5. Ensure that school counselors and school health services staff consistently promote healthy 
eating to students and other staff and that these professionals are prepared to recognize 
conditions such as unhealthy weight, eating disorders and other nutrition-related health problems 
among students and staff as well as assure access to healthcare.

6. Coordinate food service program with nutrition instruction. Food service staff should also work 
closely with those responsible for other components of the school health program to achieve common 
goals.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The District’s physical activity goal is to assist students in learning to value and enjoy physical 
activity as an ongoing part of a healthy lifestyle by ensuring that every student has the 
opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to perform a variety of physical 
activities, maintain physical fitness and regularly participate in physical activity. In order to 
achieve the physical activity goal, the district will:

1.  Develop a sequential program of appropriate physical education/healthy living for every 
student.

2.  Provide for at least 50 minutes of physical education/healthy living for students in the 
elementary grades during the school week. An average of 50 minutes during each school day for 
students in middle school. High School students need 1 unit to graduate.

3.  Emphasize knowledge and skills for a lifetime of regular physical activity.
4.  Devote at least 50 percent of physical education class time to actual physical activity in each 
week, with as much time as possible spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity.

5.  Meet the needs of all students, especially those who are not athletically gifted or who have 
special needs.

6.  Provide a variety of activity choices, feature cooperative as well as competitive activities, 
and account for gender and cultural differences in students’ interests.

7.  Prohibit exemptions from physical education courses on the basis of participation in an 
athletic team, community recreation program, ROTC, marching band or other school or community 
activity.

8.  Be closely coordinated with the other components of the overall school health program.

9.  Provide time in elementary schools for supervised recess. It is recommended that all students 
in grades K-3 will have scheduled 30 minutes per day of supervised recess. All students in grades 
4-5 will have scheduled 20 minutes per day of supervised recess.

10. Provide opportunities and encouragement for students to voluntarily participate in before and 
after school physical activity programs, such as intramural activities, interscholastic athletics 
and clubs.

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution 
is prohibited from discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or 
disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write to: USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, 
Room 326W, Whitten Building, 14th & Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 
720-5964 (voice & TDD), equal opportunity provider and employer.

Please call our Food Service Director, Lynn Scharfenberg at 636-583-5840 option 2 for any questions 
you may have or e-mail your question to scharfenbergl@unionrxi.org

Free and Reduced meal applications or student account questions please contact Stacie Eilers, 
Administrative Assistant of Operations at 636-583-5840 option 1 or e-mail eilerss@unionrxi.org

Please direct all correspondence to: Union R-XI School District, Food Services, PO Box 440, Union, 
MO 63084.

Thank you for your interest in the Union School District’s Breakfast/Lunch Program.

Union R-XI Food Service Staff