SchoolCafe provides an easy, convenient and confidential application for free and reduced meals. Click on the attached link to apply online. You may apply for the new school year beginning on July 1.  For a paper application, please see below.

Attached below is the annual letter for Free and Reduced Meals. Many eligible families never take advantage of this federal program. Also, please know that you may apply at any time, as situations can and do change.  Finally, the entire process is completely confidential.

Deer Lakes Food Service will be installing 10 vending machines throughout the district. Locations are listed below. The vending machines will follow the Smart Snack guidance during the normal school day. Vending machines that do not comply to the Smart Snack guidance will only operate 30 minutes after the school day has ended. There are three (3) different types of machines- full beverage, full snack, and combination of both. These machines will be able to accept both cash and credit cards. Student lunch accounts will not be connected to the machines. 

 

The Deer Lakes School District aims to provide nutritious and appetizing meals to students each day. The District recognizes that good nutrition is vital to students’ health, their mental and physical growth, and their readiness to participate and learn at school. The food service program operates in conjunction with federal and state school nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.

 

It is the district’s goal that the food service program be operated in a manner that is financially self-sufficient on an operational basis, with allowances for capital expenditures (e.g., facilities and capital equipment.) Unpaid meal charges place a large financial burden on the food service program and account for more than $25,000.00 owed to the Deer Lakes’ Food Services Department

 

As a result, the Deer Lakes School District will begin utilizing Creditech, a debt collection agency, for negative student meal accounts. Accounts that are more than $50 in debt will be turned over to Creditech for collection starting June 9^th, 2023. Any debts collected through Creditech will be charged an additional 18% service fee; however, if the debt is paid off directly to the school district by June 8^th, 2023, there will be no additional service charge. Attempted payments to the school district after June 8^th cannot be accepted and our online payment system will be shutdown.

 

Reimbursable meals will never be denied based on account status, eligibility or any other factor. The District will continue to follow federal law and district policies in regard to student meal procedures. 

 

 

This money directly impacts our educational programs when general funds must cover for delinquent student balances.

 

 

In response to Covid-19, Congress enacted waivers that allowed all student meals to be free. These waivers have expired on June 30^th, 2022. This means that the 2022-2023 school year will return to normal operating standards and meals will no longer be free unless the free/reduced application is completed and accepted. Applications for the free/reduced meals for the 2022-2023 school year will be accepted starting July1^st, 2022 and we strongly encourage all who may be eligible to apply. Applications will be provided once available and shall be found on the district’s website under the Food Service Section.

 

Payments can be submitted online via www.Schoolcafe.com/deerlakes. Cash/check can be sent to each school’s cafeteria. Please address checks to Deer Lakes Food Service and include your student’s name and PIN number.

Jacob Douglas

Director of Food Service

163 East Union Road

Cheswick, PA 15024

Phone: 724.265.5300 Ext. 2114
Email:  [email protected]

Christine A. Girty
Secretary, Food Services
Phone: 724.265.5300 Ext. 1254
Email: [email protected]

Deer Lake School District families are encouraged to utilize SchoolCafe - a FREE tool to manage their children's meal accounts. SchoolCafe is available online and as an app from the AppStore and Google Play.

Please note that there is a small convenience fee for online payments. To avoid the convenience fee, families can make meal payments via check (Deer Lakes Food Service) or cash at any time. Payments can be dropped off in the respective school office. Be sure to place payment in an envelope clearly marked “Deer Lakes Food Service ” with the child’s name, amount and parent contact information in the event of any questions. If the payment is for more than one student, indicate how the money should be split (for example, Johnny = $10.00 and Sally=$15.00). Payment can be made in any amount to best suit a family’s budget.

To create your SchoolCafe account, you will need your child's Student ID #. For assistance with Student ID #s, please contact your child's school office.