The food service program of the Cobb County Schools District (District) strives to provide nutritionally-balanced meals that are nourishing, are available at moderate prices, and are served in pleasant surroundings.

RULE:

A. SCHOOL MEALS:
The District believes that:
    1. School meals should be provided at a reasonable price and shall use State allocated
        food services funds to supplement federal funds as a means of keeping sale prices
        within reach of paying children.
    2. Breakfast may be provided to meet the food needs of children. The District will comply
        with the requirements for school food programs as mandated by federal and state law
        and by the State Board of Education.
    3. School lunches will meet applicable state and federal guidelines regarding food
        content, including types of foods served as well as how they are prepared.

B. PRICING AND EXPENSES:
The following directives shall be observed in operating the school cafeterias in the District.
    1. Sale Price: The sale price of any food items sold in addition to the Type A lunch,
        Special Milk programs, and special meal functions shall be computed by adding the
        food costs, labor costs, employee benefits, and all other expenses (e.g., utilities,
        etc.) in order to cover all costs.
    2. Special Meal Functions:
        a. The use of kitchen facilities must be approved by the Food Services Manager
            and the Facilities Use Coordinator.
        b. All special meal functions (banquets, luncheons, etc.), facilities use for food
            preparation and serving, and emergency shelter feeding which use the school
            kitchen facilities shall have at least one member of the regular kitchen staff
            (manager or person designated by the manager) on the premises during the
            time of such a function. The rate of pay for the person and/or persons shall be
            at their overtime rate. All labor will be reported on the Service Report and will
            be paid through the Payroll Department.
        c. All food items and/or consumable supplies purchased through the School Food and
            Nutrition Program (SFNP) and all labor used for a Special Meal Function must be
            reported on the Special Meal Function Form. Financial Services will bill the
            sponsoring organization for the food, labor and other costs of the special function.
        d. All special meal functions must operate on a self-sustaining basis.
    3. Purchasing:
        a. The purchase of the most commonly used food and non-food items are purchased
            on bid through the Purchasing Department. The school lunchroom shall purchase all
            items which are on the county-wide bid from the bid order forms.
        b. All purchases for non-bid items must be from a vendor which has been assigned a
            computer number. SFNP is responsible for obtaining prices on non-bid items
            following purchasing guidelines while seeking the best quality for the lowest price.
        c. SFNP employees are prohibited from purchasing or accepting food for personal
           use from salesmen. SFNP employees are also prohibited from accepting personal
           gifts, trading stamps or other "kick-backs" as an incentive to buy a product.
    4. Free Lunches:
        a. The free lunch program shall be administered in accordance with the State
            approved Free and Reduced Meal Policy.
        b. Each person who eats a school lunch must pay the regular sale price for his lunch
            with only two exceptions:
            (1) Students who have an approved Free or Reduced Lunch application on file for
                 the current school year;
            (2) Food service employees who are paid from school lunch funds.
    5. Adult Portions:
        a. Any adult whose name does not appear on the SFNP Payroll must pay the full cost
            of the meal or any foods consumed.
        b. The meat/meat alternate portion should be the same size as the portion served to
            the oldest student in the District.
        c. The maximum portion of fruits/vegetables should be no more than one half cup
            each.
    6. Personal Use:
        No person is permitted to take food or garbage from the food service program for
        personal use.

Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Revised: 9/7/05; 8/9/06