Food Services

Who can get free or reduced-price meals? 
Children in households participating in Food Support (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP), or Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) and foster children can get free school meals without reporting household income. Also, children can get free or reduced-price meals if their household income is within the maximum income shown for the household size. An application must be submitted each school year.

Can foster children get free meals? 
Yes, foster children who are the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals regardless of household income.

I get WIC. Can my children get free meals? 
Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. Please fill out an application.

May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen? 
Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens for your children to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later? 
Yes. You may apply at any time during the school year if your income goes down, household size goes up, or if you start getting Food Support (SNAP), MFIP, or FDPIR benefits.

Who should I include as members of my household? 
Include yourself and all other people living in the household, related or not (such as grandparents, other relatives or friends). Include a household member who is temporarily away, such as a college student. Do not include a person who is economically independent and pays their full pro-rated share of all expenses.

What if my income is not always the same? 
List the amount that you normally get. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get it only sometimes.

Are military housing and supplemental allowances counted as income? 
Do not include any housing allowance from the Military Housing Privatization Initiative or a Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance. Include the portion of a deployed service member’s income that is made available to the household, except do not include combat pay or Deployment Extension Incentive Pay.

How will the information I provide be kept? 
Information you provide on the form, and your child’s approval for school meal benefits, will be protected as private data. See the back page of the Application for Educational Benefits for more information.

Will the information I give be checked? 
Yes and we may also ask you to send written proof.

What if I disagree with the school’s decision about my application? 
You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing.

Do I need to notify school officials if my income increases or my household size decreases after I have qualified for free or reduced-price meals? 
No. Approval for free or reduced-price meals is good for the school year unless the household has received a temporary approval for school meal benefits.

Parents and younger siblings are invited to eat lunch at school with your student anytime throughout the school year. We kindly ask that you call the office by 10:00 a.m. to make your reservation. We want to make sure we have plenty of food prepared for everyone eating each day. The cost of a lunch for adults is $4.70 and children $3.10. Since we have limited change, we greatly appreciate the exact amount of money to purchase a lunch ticket. Tickets may be purchased in the building office.

The meal accounting system at the Hutchinson Public Schools is a Pre-Paid System. All meals are paid by depositing money into the individual student account before meals are served.

Payments may be made:

1. Online through the Tiger Portal
2. Check or Cash at the District Office
3. Check or Cash dropped at the buildings

One check may be written per household for all students by putting student first and last names in the memo.

Payments made at the District Office will be credited immediately to all student accounts. Payments dropped at buildings will not be posted until the following day.

When a child’s account falls below $5.00 we consider that a “low student balance”. The student will receive a reminder notice that will be sent home each week.

Please be aware that no charging is allowed during the month of May.

The Middle School and High School have many meal options to choose from. However, we encourage students to choose the reimbursable meals. For the 2021-22 School Year Breakfast and Lunch will be free for all students.

All food and beverage that is sold ala carte may be purchased on the student’s account. Students are NOT allowed to charge any purchases when they do not have enough money in their account.

The meal accounting system at the Hutchinson Public Schools is a Pre-Paid System. All meals are paid for by depositing money into the individual student account before meals are served.

Payments may be made:

1. Online through Tiger Portal
2. Check or Cash at the District Office
3. Check or Cash dropped at the building

One check may be written per household for all students by putting student first and last names in the memo.

Payments made at the District Office will be credited immediately to all student accounts. Payments dropped at buildings will not be posted until the following day.

We consider a $5.00 balance a “low student balance”. If the money remaining in the account falls below $5.00, the student will be reminded verbally on a daily basis. The family may also receive a phone call when the account becomes low or negative.

• No cash will be accepted on the serving line at the Middle School during regular lunch hours except at the snack bar.
• Please be aware that no charging is allowed during the month of May.

It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian and student to ensure there is adequate money in their child’s account.

****If there are unforeseen family circumstances please call Kristin at 320-234-2603 to make payment arrangements.

Per the Minnesota CFL-FNS, when a student does not have money in hand for the current meal, and has not prepaid for the meal, a meal may be denied because of money owed to the food service account. The school is under no obligation to continue to serve children with delinquent lunch accounts.