Rio Community School District Food Service Program 2026/2027

Nutrition and learning go hand in hand. Children who have proper nutrition have more energy and stamina to learn at school. Studies have found that students who do not have adequate nutrition are more likely to have behavior problems, lower grades, and a higher rate of absenteeism. 

The Rio Community School District offers breakfast and lunch each day for all full-day students. Meals offered at school meet the USDA Dietary Guidelines and provide the proper nutrition for students to fully achieve at school.

Breakfast Prices: 

Elementary - FREE

MS/HS - FREE

Adult - $2.80

Milk Only - $0.60

Lunch Prices: 

Elementary - $3.30

MS/HS - $3.60

Reduced Lunch - $0.40 

Adult - $4.75

Extra Lunch Entree (Super Meal) - $2.50

Milk Only - $0.60

The meal price includes one carton of milk per purchase

Special Dietary Needs 

*Food Allergy Form - It is part of our mission to make sure that each student is provided with nutritious and safe meals.  If you have special dietary concerns or allergies, please fill out and turn in this form so we can make the appropriate accommodations. This form MUST be filled out and signed by a certified physician.  medical form dietary needs

Wellness Policy 

Rio Community School District is committed to providing school environments that promote and protect children’s health, well-being and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity.  We recognize that children need access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to grow, learn and thrive.  Our commitment is in our district wellness policy (wellness policy).  If you have any feedback/ comments, please contact Sara Meixner, Food Service Director at meixner@rio.k12.wi.us . 

FOOD SERVICE - UNPAID MEAL CHARGES 

Food Service Account Policy 

The District uses an automated meal accounting system to record food service payments and to monitor food transactions. The system functions as a debit system. Families and Staff are expected to maintain their meal account in a positive status. Parents/Guardians who can not afford to pay for the cost of their children’s meals may fill out an application for free or reduced priced meals in accordance with the United States Department of Agriculture Child Nutrition program regulations. 

Administrative Regulations 

1.  Account Deposits

• Online payments may be made using credit cards or debit cards. The district is utilizing e-funds for food service payments to process online transactions with the assistance of a secure third party payer.  

• A standard transaction fee is charged to the parent and paid to the secure third party payer for using the online payment option. The district does not benefit from this service. 

• Parents may make payments at either school at no cost to them. 

Payments may also be mailed to Rio School District, 411 Church Street, Rio, WI 53960.  

      2.  Insufficient Student Accounts 

• Students will NOT be allowed to purchase super meals OR a la carte items if their account goes negative until it is brought to a positive balance. In-hand payment for items will NOT be accepted.  

• Parents will be notified by an automated email daily through skyward once their account balance reaches positive $10 until it is brought above this balance.  

• Parents will get a personal email once their balance reaches negative $20. Parents are expected to pay in full or contact the school to set up a payment plan.  

• If a student reaches negative $30 with no payment arrangements in place, parents will receive a personal phone call and the student(s) may be turned away from receiving lunch until it is paid in full.  

• If a student reaches negative $50 with no payment arrangements in place, the District may file a claim with the small claims court or utilize the services of a collection agency, credit bureau and/or legal counsel to secure collection on unpaid debts not paid within 30 days of notification.  The charges for filing claims with small claims courts or for securing the services of a collection agency shall be added to the unpaid debt due to the District.  

• In accordance with USDA regulations students receiving free meal benefits cannot be denied a meal for any reason, including failure to maintain funds in their lunch account. Also, paid and reduced eligible students must also be provided a meal if they have the cash to pay for a current day’s meal, even if their lunch account includes a delinquent amount.  

Please make sure your child(s) food service account is at a positive balance. 

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Universal Free Breakfast for all students!!  

All students, AM early learning through 12th grade, have access to a morning nutrition break. 

Early learning through 5th grade is served 8:00am-8:30am; 

6th through 12th grade is served 9:31am - 9:43am.  

Students may choose a full breakfast meal or a single milk. 

Full breakfast is FREE.  

If students choose only milk, that is not covered and the family is responsible for the purchase.  The cost of only milk is $.60 

All Students are offered lunch. 

Students at the middle/high school may purchase an extra entree(Super Meal), 

for an additional $2.50.

This is not covered by free or reduced eligibility. 

Parents of students in grades 6-12 may limit additional lunch purchases. 

This does not affect the purchase of any regular meal or milk, it only limits the money spent on extra entrees.

Additional purchases are not covered by free or reduced eligibility,

 this includes extra milk and an extra entree. 

Any negative balance accrued by these charges is the parent’s responsibility.  

If you would like to exclude any extra purchases, please call Sara Meixner 920-992-3141 ext 188 or email meixner@rio.k12.wi.us   

A La Carte is returning for High School Students!!!  

Requested by Students!!!  

We will be offering A La Carte items during lunch for High School Students.  Items can be purchased in addition to school lunch or separately.  Prices range from $.50 to $3.50.  The cost will be deducted from the student's food service account.  

Food Service account MUST be at a positive balance to purchase a la carte items 

Please fill out the Food Service Permission Form to allow a la carte purchases.  

If you do not want your child to be allowed to purchase a la carte items, please mark no on the form or feel free to contact me directly.  

Free and Reduced-Price Meals

Families need to reapply each year if not qualified through the direct certification program.

Free and reduced price meals are available for those who qualify.

 Applications are available at both school offices or on the district web site. 

Parents should read the information carefully to see if they qualify. 

If you have not received notification that you have qualified for the new school year, you should complete a new application as soon as possible. The completed application should be returned to: Sara Meixner 411 Church Street, Rio, WI 53960.    

An application can be filled out any time with eligibility at the time it is received. The district implements all precautions available to respect the recipient’s confidentiality of free and reduced meals.  

Each child is entitled to one lunch and one breakfast per day at their approved status.  Additional entrees and milk only are at full cost and families are responsible for all charges incurred.  

The Food Service Director is available to offer assistance with any nutrition concerns you may have and may be contacted at 920-992-3141 ext. 188 or meixner@rio.k12.wi.us

Sara Meixner 

Food Service Director 

As a district we strive to prepare nutritionally balanced, healthy and appealing meals to our students at a reasonable cost. We value your participation in our school nutrition program! 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

1. fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or

2. Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.