MISSION
The mission of the Food Service Department is to provide a variety of appealing, nutritious, and safe meals in an environment that is respectful of student and faculty needs with the commitment of a cost effective and efficient program.
FAST FACTS
– KCSD participates in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs called the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
– Families with students attending Keokuk Catholic will need to fill out the free/reduced lunch application to determine eligibility for free/reduced lunches.
– For any extras or a-la-carte purchases, students must have adequate funds in their account at the time of purchase.
Keokuk Community School District uses a computerized lunch account system for each student. This system allows parents to establish a family lunch account for all of their children regardless of what buildings the students attend. Students are responsible for the charges to their account by using their lunch card (Student ID) or punching in an assigned number. No student is to sell, borrow, or trade with their lunch card or lunch number. The district is not responsible for charges made to an account.
ADD FUNDS
Families may add money to student(s) accounts using E-Funds electronic payment via check, cash or card. This is the preferred method of payment, as payments are automatically applied to your students account and available to be used within 15 minutes typically.
– You may also submit payment by dropping off cash or check at the school office or mailing payment to: Food Services, c/o Sarah Hackett Keokuk Middle School, 2002 Orleans Street, Keokuk, Iowa 52632
Starting 2024-2025, all full-day students PreK-12 are eligible for a FREE breakfast and lunch, students with negative accounts are welcome to get a free meal. For any extras or a-la-carte purchases, students must have adequate funds in their account at the time of purchase.
NOTE | Milk is 40 cents
ADD FUNDS
Families may add money to student(s) accounts using E-Funds electronic payment via check, cash or card. This is the preferred method of payment, as payments are automatically applied to your students account and available to be used within 15 minutes typically.
– You may also submit payment by dropping off cash or check at the school office or mailing payment to: Food Services, c/o Sarah Hackett Keokuk Middle School, 2002 Orleans Street, Keokuk, Iowa 52632
REGULAR FEES
End of the year Negative Balances
In grades K-12 , negative balances will be carried over to the following school year. These negative balances must be taken care of prior to school starting as a part of the school registration process. A la carte items not allowed with a negative lunch balance.
Starting 2024-2025, all full-day students PreK-12 are eligible for a FREE breakfast and lunch, students with negative accounts are welcome to get a free meal. For any extras or a-la-carte purchases, students must have adequate funds in their account at the time of purchase.
Keokuk Community School District has made it easier for families to apply for free or reduced priced meals. You can download and complete an application in minutes.
- Students will obtain eligibility benefits faster
- Electronic submission ensures that the completed application reaches the district office quickly
- Secure and confidential
DIRECTIONS: After clicking on the image, in the bottom menu, click the 3 dots and choose Download for a fillable application.
Weekend Food Bags are distributed on Fridays to students in need.
To have your child participate in the Weekend Food Bag program, email kellie.granera@keokukschools.org.
USDA FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GRANT
1. What is the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program?
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) is a federally assisted program providing free fresh fruits and vegetables to students in participating elementary schools during the school day. The goal of the FFVP is to improve children’s overall diet and create healthier eating habits to impact their present and future health. The FFVP will help schools create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices; expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience; and increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption.
2. When did the FFVP become a national program?
The FFVP began as the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program, authorized by Congress under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171) in a limited number of States and schools. The purpose of the pilot was to identify best practices for increasing fresh fruit and vegetable consumption among students, and to determine the feasibility and students’ interest. In 2008 the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 established the FFVP as a permanent program and also expanded the FFVP nationwide to all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-234) amended the National School Lunch Act (NSLA) by adding section 19, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and substantially increased the funding level.
3. Who may participate in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program?
The 50 States, District of Columbia, and the territories of Guam, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands participate. The FFVP is targeted to elementary schools with the highest free and reduced price enrollment.
4. Who administers the Program?
The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) administers the FFVP at the Federal level. At the State level, the FFVP is usually administered by the State education agency, which operates the program through agreements with school food authorities (SFA).
5. How does the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program work?
Elementary schools participating in the program receive between $50.00 – $75.00 per student for the school year. The State agency decides the per-student funding amount for the selected schools based on total funds allocated to the State and the enrollment of applicant schools. With these funds, schools purchase additional fresh fruits and vegetables to serve free to students during the school day. They must be served outside of the normal time frames for the National School Lunch (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP). The State agency or SFA determines the best method to obtain and serve the additional fresh produce. Schools participating in the FFVP submit monthly claims for reimbursement which are reviewed by the SFA before payment is processed to the State agency. Schools are reimbursed for the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables and limited non-food costs. Schools must follow all food safety requirements and HACCP guidance.
6. What are the Program requirements for eligible elementary schools?
Schools have the flexibility to develop their own implementation plan, choose the type of produce, number of days a week (FNS strongly encourages schools, whenever feasible, to offer the FFVP no less than 2 days a week) and times during the day (outside of NSLP and SBP operation) to provide free fresh fruits and vegetables to their students. Eligible elementary schools must submit an application that includes:
• the total number of enrolled students and the percentage eligible for free/reduced price meals;
• a certification of support for participation in the FFVP signed by the school food manager, school principal and the district superintendent (or equivalent position)
• a program implementation plan including efforts to integrate the FFVP with other efforts to either promote sound health and nutrition. Schools are also encouraged to develop partnerships to help implement the program, such as with local universities, extension services and local grocers. Schools must also agree to widely publicize the availability of the program.
7. How do schools purchase fruits and vegetables for the Program?
Schools may purchase their fruits and vegetables through the same system they make purchases for the NSLP and SBP. They may acquire produce through the DOD Fresh program, or they may purchase locally. In all cases, schools must follow proper procurement procedures and produce must be purchased according to existing local, State and Federal guidelines.
8. How is the program funded?
Beginning school year 2012/2013, the base funding made available for the FFVP was adjusted to reflect changes for the 12-month period ending the preceding April 30 in the Consumer Price Index. In addition, this is combined with any recovered prior year funds. As such, the total funding for the FFVP in school year 2013/2014 is $ 165.5 million. Funding amounts in all subsequent years will also reflect these adjustments. The funding level per state is determined through a formula allocation as described in the NSLA and provided through the States’ Letter of Credit. In School Year 2008-2009 the total funding for FFVP was $40 million and rose to $150 million
in school year 2012-2013.
For more information:
For information on the operation of the FFVP Program and all the Child Nutrition Programs, contact the State agency in your state that is responsible for the administration of the programs.
A listing of all our State agencies may also be found on our web site at http://www.fns.usda.gov/office-type/child-nutrition-programs, select your State from the drop down box and select “apply.”
You may also contact us through the Communication Division at 703‐305‐2281, or by mail at 3101 Park Center Drive, Suite 926, Alexandria, Virginia 22302.
– September 2013
BANANAS
Bananas
- – A single banana is called a finger, a bunch of bananas is called a hand.
- – Bananas are believed to be the world’s first cultivated fruit.
- – Bananas float in water.
- – The scientific name for bananas is musa sapientum, which means “fruit of the wise men”.
- – Bananas are the 4th most popular agricultural product, with 100 billion pounds eaten each year!
- – Bananas have been depicted in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs.
- – Bananas contain potassium, vitamin C, fiber and vitamin B6.
- – Bananas are harvested green and transported while still green. Once they reach their destination they are ripened using ethylene gas. In large produce distribution facilities, they have special rooms just to ripen bananas, where they actually pump ethylene gas into the room. To ripen bananas faster, you can put them in a sealed container with an apple, kiwi, avocado, plum or other ethylene-producing fruit.
- – Bananas are not grown on trees, the plant is classified as an herb. They are in the same family as lilies, orchids, and palms. The fruit of a banana is actually a berry!
CAULIFLOWER
Cauliflower
- – Cauliflower belongs to the group of cruciferous vegetables, also known as family of cabbages. It is closely related to broccoli, brussels sprouts, kale and cabbage.
- – The origin of the name is from the Latin word caulis (cabbage) and flower.
- – Cultivation of cauliflower started 600 years B.C. in Turkey. Cultivation in America started at the beginning of the 20th century.
- – Hundreds varieties of cauliflower are available today. They differ in color, size, shape, taste and nutritional composition. Cauliflower is one of the healthiest plants on the planet.
- – The white edible part that you eat is referred to as a “head” and pieces of the head are referred to as “curds”. The leaves are also edible, but not commonly eaten.
- – Color of the head depends on the variety. Most common type of cauliflower is white, but it can also be green, purple, orange, brown and yellow color.
- – Cauliflower is an excellent source of dietary fibers, vitamins C, K and vitamins of the B group. Cauliflower is low in calories and can be used as a substitute for rice and potato.
- – China is the greatest manufacturer of cauliflowers in the world. California is the major cauliflower-producing state in the U.S., with about 90% of the supply.
- – In 2014, a farmer set a new Guinness World Record when he grew a cauliflower weighing in at 60 pounds, 9.3 ounces, and was six feet wide measured across the leaves.
- – One acre of cauliflower plants can produce 7-9 tons of cauliflower heads.
FOOD ALLERGIES
If your child has a disability or life-threatening food allergy and you would like a substituted menu, you will need to obtain a Diet Order Form and Food Allergy Action Plan by calling the Nurse or Health Associate of the school your child attends, the Nutrition Services Department at 319-524-3737, or print off the forms below. These forms will need to be signed by a physician licensed by the State and returned to the nurse where your student attends. Requests for special diets must be submitted annually and updated by a physician annually.
FOOD ALLERGY POLICY
Recognizing that students with life-threatening allergies attend our school, Keokuk Community School District will maintain a system-wide emergency plan for addressing life-threatening allergic reactions and maintain an Individual Emergency Medical Plan (IEMP) for any student(s) whose parents/guardians, and physicians have informed the principal of the school in writing that the student(s) has a potentially life-threatening allergy. Further, the District will utilize procedures to minimize the chance of a child experiencing a life-threatening allergic reaction.
All necessary staff will be notified of the student(s) who have life-threatening allergies. It will be the Transportation Supervisors’ and child care director’s responsibility to communicate this information to all regular drivers and substitute drivers.
LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGY POLICY
The school principal, in consultation with a school nurse, will be responsible for notifying the classroom teachers, classroom associates, and parents of students in classrooms where one or more students have a life-threatening allergy. (The allergy must be clearly documented by the primary care physician or a board certified allergist.) Notification will include an explanation of the severity of the health threat, a description of signs and symptoms to be aware of and a concise list of foods and materials to avoid. Parents, in consultation with their primary care provider/allergist, will provide the list of allergens to be avoided.
The District may request that parents/students avoid nuts and nut products in lunches and snacks in grades PreK-12.
TREATS FOR CLASS
No homemade treats (excluding homemade lunches) for students, will be brought into our schools either by parents or students. All treats must be commercially prepared and packaged for distribution with intact ingredient labels. Treats may be distributed by the classroom teacher for special occasions, such as birthdays or holiday parties. Classrooms with students who have life-threatening allergies may have more specific guidelines depending on the type(s) of allergy.
FOOD IN CLASSROOMS
Food preparation will be allowed in academic curriculum for grades PK-12 with the principal’s approval (who is in consultation with a school nurse.) An exception will be made for food preparation as related to the Individual Education Plan of individual student’s goals served in special education in PK-12 grades. Precautions will be taken for students with life-threatening allergies.
Only prepackaged food manipulatives should be used in classrooms. Peanut butter jars should not be used for storage of manipulatives, even if the jars have been thoroughly washed.
FOOD SERVICES POLICY
The school district operates a school nutrition program in each school building (attendance center). The school nutrition program includes meals through participation in the National School Lunch Program. Students may bring their lunches from home and purchase milk and available additionals items.
In an effort to maintain an environment that promotes healthy eating for our students, the following foods/beverages are strongly discouraged in the cafeteria: sugary, caffeinated beverages (soda pop), candy, fast foods, and other foods that are high in fat, sugar and/or sodium but low in nutrient value. If you are unsure, please call the school to check beforehand.
USDA DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Revised 2-15-23
All FNS nutrition assistance programs, State or local agencies, and their subrecipients, must post the following Nondiscrimination Statement:
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/ad-3027.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, DC 20250-9410; or - Fax:
(833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or - Email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Declaración de no discriminación del Departmamento de Agricultura (USDA)
LINK | https://sites.google.com/iowa.gov/schoolnutritionresources/usda-and-iowa-nondiscrimination-statement
IOWA NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
“It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office building, 400 E. 14th St. Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.”