School Meal Program

To facilitate your child’s purchase of any food items, the district offers a pre-payment system. By using the pre-payment system, no cash will exchange hands in the schools. There are two ways for pre-paying for school meals: checks or through online prepayments via (https://www.myschoolbucks.com). If you do not already have a free account, you can go to www.myschoolbucks.com and register. This online payment service provides individuals with a quick and easy way to add money to your child’s meal account using a credit/debit card or electronic check. There are different fee options to choose from online. Please note: The district does not receive any revenue on the fee for this service. You will have the opportunity to review any fees and cancel if you choose before you are charged. If you do not choose to pay online for use of this service, you still have the option to send in a check to prepay for myschoolbucks.  

Please contact the Food Service Office to discuss any myschoolbucks issues.  

As stated in the District’s Meal Charging and Prohibition Against Meal Shaming Policy, a student with a negative balance on his or her account is unable to purchase ala carte items (snacks), so please remain current with your child’s account. Balances may be routinely viewed if you’ve set up a MySchoolBucks account online. For the first week of school, snacks may be limited for purchase to ensure that all students purchasing lunch are served. It may take a few days for Whitson’s to establish their own routines, as they familiarize themselves with our schools and students.  

The 2024-2025 Free and Reduced Price meal applications are available below. 

Letter to Parents (English)

Letter to Parents (Spanish)

Application (English): 2024-2025 Free and Reduced Meal Application - English.pdf 

Application (Spanish): 2025-2025 Free and Reduced Meal Application - Spanish.pdf 

School districts, including North Merrick, which participate in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program are required to develop a local school wellness policy and perform an assessment of this policy at a minimum of once every three years.  The National School Lunch Program provides districts with the areas mandated for review as a participant in the program.

On February 15, 2022, the Wellness Committee conducted an assessment of the district's wellness policy.  The attached assessment tool is  used to track progress and gather ideas on ways to create a healthier school environment. Please click on the Elementary School in which you are interested in reviewing the Triennial Assessment.

Triennial Assessment Tool - Old Mill Road School

Triennial Assessment Tool - Camp Avenue School

Triennial Assessment Tool - Fayette School

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)(link is external) found online at: How to File a Complaint(link is external), 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 
 (3)      email: program.intake@usda.gov(link sends e-mail).
 
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.