School Nutrition

Mission Statement: The goal of the Houston County School Nutrition Department is to provide our students nutritious and satisfying meals. Our kind an caring staff hopes to brighten our students' day while serving them with a smile.

Child Nutrition Director

School Cafeteria Managers

EES Cafeteria Manager

TRES Cafeteria Manager

HCMS Cafeteria Manager

HCHS Cafeteria Manager

❀ Feel free to contact your school’s cafeteria manager with any questions regarding the child nutrition program

Monthly menus are available on this website through the Menus link on the main page. We also have a Facebook page - Houston County School Food Services. We provide monthly menus, menu changes, and general information.

Public Notice

Houston County School System announced its policy for free and reduced-price meals for children served in schools
under the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program. Beginning July 1, 2024, through May 31,
2025, the Houston County School System will participate in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). No further action
is required of you. This USDA provision allows your child(ren) to participate in the school meal programs without having
to pay a fee or submit a meal application.

CEP is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, which allows schools and school districts in low-
income areas to eliminate school meal applications and serve breakfast and lunch at no charge to the enrolled

students. CEP gives food service professionals more time to focus on preparing nutritious meals that their students will
enjoy and gives students more time to eat those meals by cutting down on the time spent in the lunch line. More
importantly, by offering all students a nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost, CEP helps ensure more students come
to class well-nourished and ready to learn.
Children need healthy meals to learn. Houston County School System offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast
and lunch meals will follow the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines for healthy school meals, so
please encourage students to participate. “In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated
against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age or disability.”
Parents or guardians who need more information may contact Rachel Shelton, Child Nutrition Program Director at 931-
289-4148 ext. 105 or email rshelton@houstonk12tn.net

CEP Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)?
   • CEP is an alternative reimbursement option through the USDA for eligible high-poverty school districts. Houston County School System has qualified based on the number of the student population that has been directly certified through federal benefits programs (e.g. SNAP, TANF, FDPIR, Medicaid, homeless, migrant, runaway, and foster).
2. What does this mean for individual students?
   • All students will receive breakfast and lunch for free. No applications are necessary.
3. Will students still be charged for extras and A La Carte items?
   • Yes, each school will continue to offer extras, second lunch, a la carte, snacks and drinks for sell, prices are listed at each school.
4. Will the menus remain the same?
   • Yes, current meal patterns and standards will be followed. The quality of the foods served will not change.

Meal Prices

Student Monies

• Please send cash or check in an envelope with your child’s name
• Please write separate check for lunch payments
• Please do not include book money or field trip money, etc. with lunch money
• Please keep informed regarding your child’s account balance

Charge Policy

• Staff my only charge up to $25
• Once a staff member reaches $25 charge, they must have money to pay for their meal that day
• A la carte items must be paid for at time they are purchased, they cannot be charged

Account Balances

• You may view student purchases, payments, and up-to-date balance on Skyward
• If you are unable to check Skyward, please contact your child’s principal for log-in information
• We encourage you to call to check student account balances
  • EES – 931.289.3348
  • HCHS - 931.289.4449
  • TRES – 931.721.3751
  • HCMS – 931.289.3271

  Meal Pattern:

  • Offer Vs. Serve
    • Breakfast:
      • Milk
      • Fruit and/or fruit juice
      • 1 Grain & 1 Meat OR 2 Grains OR 2 Meats
      • In Offer Vs. Serve – all 4 items are offered; students can elect to choose 3 or more items, but must choose a fruit. Less than 3 items will result in A la carte pricing
      • Meat/Meat Alternative
      • Vegetable
      • Fruit
      • Grain/Grain Alternative
      • Milk
      • In Offer Vs. Serve – all 5 items are offered; students can elect to choose 3,4 or 5 items but must choose a fruit or vegetable. Less than 3 items will result in A la carte pricing.

      Thank you for allowing us to feed your child! Best wishes for a wonderful school year!

      USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

      In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

      Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

      To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

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

      (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or

      This institution is an equal opportunity provider.