Purpose
The purpose of this regulation is to establish consistent meal account procedures for Durango School District 9-R, and alleviate the financial burden that unpaid meal charges place on the school district.
Durango School District 9-R recognizes that it is the parent or guardian’s responsibility to provide breakfast and lunch for their children. We also know that a well-nourished child is a more engaged learner and performs better in school.
This regulation serves to create a fair system to ensure students have access to school meals and parents/guardians are aware of their responsibility to pay outstanding school meal debt.
Free and Reduced Meal Program
Free & Reduced Applications are available anytime during the school year. A new, current school year application must be completed each school year. Applications are available prior to the beginning of the school year during school registration, check-in and meet your teacher events, as well as at the District Office, at each school cafeteria, the school office, and online for print, at Durango School District 9-R - Free and Reduced Meal Program Online free and reduced applications may be accessed through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.
PK-12 families with students on the Free or on the Reduced plan eat breakfast and lunch for free.
Please ensure that you receive confirmation that you are on the Free or Reduced meal program to avoid charging meals and incurring fees.
If you need assistance to complete a Free and Reduced application, please call the Food Services department 970-259-1630 ext 2041.
Payment Due Upon Service
Paid families are expected to pay for meals at time of service or to pre-fund their student’s lunch account.
Meal Charge Regulation PK-12
On occasion, the Food Services department receives community funding and donations from individual citizens wanting to support the community they live in. These funds are accounted for using the finance protocol required via a separate fund. These funds are prioritized to help offset unpaid balances for our highest need students, and as such, any donations will be applied in the order of highest need first. The District will apply donated funds in the following manner:
When funds are available, families in need of assistance may declare hardship and request the use of donation funds to help pay down an account balance.
A family may declare hardship and apply for funds by completing a Hardship Application, available on the Meal Account Payment Options page and submitting to:
foodservice@durangoschools.org or by mail Food Services, 2390 Main Avenue, Durango CO 81301.
A family can declare hardship via phone to the building administrator or their designee when they receive a phone call about their delinquent balance, or they may call in and request. The hardship application may be completed by school staff after verbal confirmation with the family.
A family may call Food Services 970-259-1630 ext 2042 and file via phone with the Coordinator of Food Services.
Donations made by families with graduating seniors will be automatically applied toward outstanding lunch balances at the high school level at the end of a school year.
How to Pay for Student Lunches