Littlestown Area SD discusses meal billing, parental restrictions and a la carte limits

School officials and board members in a Littlestown Area SD meeting went through policies governing student meal purchases, parental restrictions and how a la carte sales interact with federal reimbursement rules.

Speaker 1 said the only way a district can withhold a full meal is with a written, signed direction from a parent or guardian and that the district must communicate directly with that parent or guardian at least twice in a school year to establish the restriction. "They are directed to what makes a meal, and the food service staff is very well trained," Speaker 1 said, adding staff will encourage students "to go back and get what would be in the meal."

Board members and others raised practical questions about allergies, negative lunch balances and how a la carte items are handled. Speaker 4 explained that if a student declines key components of a reimbursable meal—such as a protein, fruit or vegetable—the sale can be treated as an a la carte purchase rather than a reimbursable meal.

The district noted that if federal funds are used for food purchases, federal guidance applies to purchasing and to how excess funds must be handled. Speaker 1 said the food-service team attempts to enforce rules about negative balances and a la carte restrictions "to the best of our ability," and that parents can set limits through the district's food-service portal so children cannot buy individual items the parent does not permit.

The discussion included a request for clarification about the cafeteria report and apparent changes in reported subsidy figures; board members paused those accounting questions until personnel could review the report.

What happens next: staff said they will continue to enforce parental restrictions via the meal portal, review the cafeteria report figures as requested and bring any needed policy clarifications to a future board meeting.