ACCOUNT NUMBERS :  Every student has an account in the cafeteria's point-of-sale system.  The account number is assigned when a student first enters school in Clay County and remains the same throughout the student's enrollment in Clay County Schools. .  There is no correlation between the account number and the student's meal payment status. 

Checks or envelopes with cash payments must list the child's full name and correct account number to ensure that the payment goes to the right account.  Any other information to help identify the correct student is helpful.

MASTER ACCOUNTS : Master Accounts will no longer be used. Each student's meal account will stand alone. A deposit sent for several children should indicate how much should be put in each child's account. If you wish the cashier to move money from one child's account to another, please call Head Cashier, Fa Ledford, at 389-6855.

PAYMENTS:  We expect all students to keep positive account balances for purchasing meals and any other items agreed upon with the parent.  Students may deposit any dollar amount in their account for future use. Deposits may be made anytime during the school day.  Elementary school students routinely bring "lunch" money on Monday mornings.  If you are paying by check or with cash in an envelope (as for elementary students) please list the child's full name and account number on the check or envelope. 

We prefer checks for ease of tracking deposits if a question ever arises; however, if your bank notifies you that your check was returned to us unpaid, please contact us immediately to arrange to cover the check. If you don't arrange with the School Nutrition Administrative Office (828-389-6332 in the Superintendent's Office Building) to cover the check, we will retrieve the amount from your child's meal account, possibly creating a negative balance. As a last resort, we will take legal action to recover the check amount.

EXTRA PURCHASES:  Students may purchase extra menu items or other extra food items depending on their grade and any restrictions the parent or school  may set.  Ice cream is the most widely purchased extra, and is the only option other than bottled water for the elementary grades and is on a limited basis determined by Elementary School administration.   Students must have a positive balance in their account or cash in hand to purchase any extra food items.  

CHARGING POLICY - Elementary School: School meal accounts are "debit accounts", not charge accounts; purchases are deducted from a positive balance. The cashier will tell the student when he or she needs lunch money soon, and a low balance slip is given to the student or to the teacher to send home with the student.

CHARGING POLICY - Middle School: Clay County Board of Education Policy - As a transition to becoming responsible for their lunch accounts, Middle School students may charge up to three meals in the cafeteria. After that, the student must go to the school office to borrow money from a special fund or he/she may choose to take a free alternate meal. Cashiers remind students daily when their account is low or overdrawn, and a low-balance slip will be given to take home if the student wishes.

CHARGING POLICY - High School: NONE. High School students are expected to remain aware of their meal account balance and to bring deposits as necessary. Cashiers remind students daily when their account is low. If a student still forgets to bring money when needed, he must deal with his situation before going to the cashier with a full tray and no money.
1. He may borrow money for the regular meal from a friend or teacher.
2. He may ask the cafeteria staff for an alternate complimentary meal (a free meal consisting of PBJ sandwich and a milk, or a cheese sandwich and a milk). The alternate meal provides food for the student while functioning as a stronger reminder when verbal reminders are forgotten.
3. Any student with a special situation or need should ask to speak with the manager for individual accommodation.
4. If a student has only part of the payment for a meal, he will be allowed to take the meal and charge the balance for that one meal.

CHARGING POLICY - Adults: Adults may not charge.