MealPay is a prepayment system that allows you to make deposits into
children's accounts via the web at
http://www.mealpayplus.com.
Allows you to sign up and register a child or children in
multiple districts on the website
Accepts credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, or Discover), bank check
cards with VISA or MC logo
Allows you to view child's balance
Allows you to view payment history
Allows you to view purchase history
Deposit confirmations are emailed direct to you email account
Low balance email reminders can be set up to remind you when you
balance reaches a certain limit
Allows payments and balances to be updated virtually real-time
Wallet and Auto Replenish features allow you to set a low
balance amount that will automatically child's account at that
balance from your credit card
There is no charge for viewing the student's account history or
sending low balance. The parent will have to register as a user using
the alphanumeric KISD ID number for their child. A $2.00 charge is added
when making deposits on MealPayPlus. The $2.00 charge includes the
entire family when making a deposit (maximum transaction of $200 single
child), not just a single child.
Security is a priority with MealPayPlus. The data is encrypted at 128
bit encryption...with SSL/secure socket layer. VISA protocol for its
CISP/Cardholder Information Security program is followed and CISP
certification from VISA is held. This VISA's highest security
certification.
If parents have problems or payment processing questions, they should
call 877-237-0946 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. -- 6:00 p.m. EST. After
hours, they will be asked to leave a number and will be called the next
business day. Parents can also send emails to
Support@Mealpay.com.
The KISD Technology Department has introduced a
callout system to alert parents by telephone of student activity. The Nutrition
& Food Service Department is using the School Messenger software to reach
parents/guardians with a courtesy call stating their child has a low or
negative account balance in the cafeteria. The telephone calls will go out
two times a week, on Wednesday and Sunday. The
message presently states the name of the school, child's name and the low or
negative balance amount. The low balance calls will be made for all accounts
from $0.01 to $2.00 All questions pertaining to account balances should be
directed to the cafeteria manager between the hours of 6:30 am and 2:30 pm.
Any requests for
changes on a student record needs to be directed to your home campus. Contact
the Registrar/Zangle Coordinator in your school's front office.
The School Messenger software is programmed to call all accounts with a balance of less than $2.00.
If your child has a small balance in an account and you prefer not to receive
the courtesy call, you may choose to do one of the following: 1). Deposit money
to keep the account above $2.00 2). The student can use the balance to purchase
menu item(s) to achieve a zero balance 3). Parent can request to transfer the
balance to sibling account within KISD or 4). Parent can request account to be
zeroed out.
The Katy Food Service
Department allows students at the Elementary level to borrow money for lunch
in an emergency situation. This courtesy will not be extended after account
balance reaches cap of $-15.00. If the student wants to borrow money for
lunch after cap is reached a complimentary cheese sandwich & white milk will
be offered instead of a tray. If a student owes money, he/she will not be
allowed to purchase snacks until the account is paid in full. Parents are
responsible for monitoring the amount of money in their child’s account and
for paying back any borrowed money in a timely manner. There is a no
charge/borrowing policy for Junior and Senior High level students.
Your elementary child may have been given a cheese sandwich and milk at no charge if he/she has borrowed over the limit. Please repay the borrowed money to the school cafeteria as soon as possible.
As August 2008, the district can no longer accommodate a parent’s request to restrict an account or add preferences to the cafeteria software. The software’s “Manager Alert” feature can only be used for students will medical issues. However, the parent does have the ability to monitor student purchases (at no charge) through
www.Mealpayplus.com.
Parents will receive a
notice of insufficient check in the mail from Checksmart Recovery, the
district's check collection company. The amount to be repaid will be the amount
of the original returned check plus the additional bank fees of $30.00 plus tax.
Handle payment directly with the check collection company @ 1-888-851-6634 and
not with your campus. Additional checks will not be accepted until the
insufficient check is paid directly to Checksmart Recovery. After
two checks have been returned unpaid to Katy ISD, the district reserves the
right to no longer accept any checks from students living in that household. The
parent/guardian will be asked to send in cash, a cashiers check, money order or
use MEALPAY (www.mealpayplus.com) with a
personal credit card for repayment on account.
The National School
Lunch and School Breakfast Program requires an application be sent home with
each district student at the beginning of each school year. The program provides
free and reduced priced meals for children of families unable to pay the full
price of the meals as defined by the federal government.
To apply for these benefits, parents of students must fill out this application
and return it to the school or send it to the food service office. Be sure to
include the names of all students on one application, complete the income
information, sign the form and write the parent social security number or the
word ‘none’ in the appropriate space. Qualification for this program is
determined by the income criteria determined yearly by the United States
Department of Agriculture.
A new application must be filled out at the beginning of each school year.
Meal benefits begin on the day the application is approved in the food service
office and continues throughout the school year and approximately the first
thirty days of the next school year. Any student who does not have a current
application on file in the food service office will be unable to receive meal
benefits after thirty calendar days into the new school year.
The most convenient prepayment option is through MealPay. This method allows you to make deposits into children's accounts via the web at
http://www.mealpayplus.com with your personal credit card. You may also make a deposit to the meal account with a check. Please place the check in a sealed envelope with your student's first and last name, teacher and district ID number noted. If you prefer to use cash as the method of prepayment, the parent/guardian should hand deliver to the food service manager/cashier in your cafeteria. A Detailed Account report can be requested at that time to show receipt of payment. The NFS Department can not reimburse claims of lost cash payment without a receipt.
Checks should be made
out to KISD Food Service and include the student name(s) and the district
student identification number in the memo section. If a check is written to
cover more than one student in the same school, all the names of the children,
the amount per each account and their student identification number should be
noted on the face of the check.
The Katy ISD Food
Service Department uses a computerized point of sale system. This system allows
us to account for all meals served at each school. Each district student is
assigned a district student identification number. All students in the secondary
& elementary schools will scan their district identification card at the cash register at
both breakfast and lunch.
To receive the stated
breakfast meal price, the student must take at least two of the food items
offered. If two items are not on their tray, the student will be charged ala
carte prices. Milk, white or chocolate, is considered as one item offered. The
student may choose to take all items offered that day for the same price.
To receive the stated
lunch meal price, the student must take one full entrée and at least two of the
other items offered. If three items are not on their tray, the student will be
charged ala carte prices. Milk, white or chocolate, is considered as one item
offered. The student may choose to take the entrée and all items offered that
day for the same price.
To receive the stated
lunch meal price, the student needs to have chosen an entree and at least two of
the other items offered. Milk can be counted as 1 item. If a total of 3 items
are not on the tray, the student will be charged ala carte prices which could
cost you more than the stated meal price.
To receive the stated
breakfast meal price, the student needs to have chosen at least two of the items
offered. Milk can be counted as 1 item. If a total of 2 items are not on the
tray, the student will be charged ala carte prices which could cost you more
than the stated meal price.
Any money left in the
child’s account at the end of the school year will be available on the first day
of school the following year. The funds will also advance to another school in
the district as your child progresses through Katy ISD.
Food allergies (including milk allergies) require
a note from a certified doctor to be on file with the food service department. A
note should be sent to the food service manager at the school your child attends
each year. A memo will be placed on the POS to remind the cashier of the
allergy. Questions should be directed to the district dietitian located in the
food service office.
The monthly menu is
analyzed by a district registered dietitian to ensure compliance with federal
regulations. Nutrients analyzed include number of calories, fat, vitamin C, Iron
and Vitamin A.
The district receives
federal reimbursement for meals served to children only. The value of this
reimbursement plus any donated commodities must not be used to subsidize adult
meals.
A parent or guardian will need to fill out a NEW signed physician’s statement detailing the medical issue and the food substitution prescribed for your child. You may obtain the KISD Physician Statement Form from your school nurse or on the district website. The original form should be completed & returned to the school nurse. Texas Department of Agriculture regulations require that a copy of the Physician statement is kept on file in cafeteria manager office. As a result of the increasing number of district students who fit into this medical issue category, the Nutrition and Food Service staff will no longer be able to monitor snack or preference alerts. This summer the POS system will be purged of all existing snack, allergy and diet restriction alerts. Beginning August 2008 all POS “Manager” alerts will be used only for physician documented medical issues related to severe food allergies & diet restrictions. Any severe food allergy that could lead to anaphylactic shock or Type I Diabetes condition would be considered a life threatening medical issue.
The Nutrition & Food Service Department is privileged to have two ADA registered dietitians on staff. The monthly menu is analyzed by the dietitian to ensure compliance with federal regulations. Nutrients analyzed include number of calories, fat, vitamin C, Iron and Vitamin A. The department dietitian is available to answer parent inquires regarding specific nutritional product concerns during business hours or via email. The menus are available through the link on our district website.
For more information contact
Lydia Bontempo Director of Nutrition & Food Services
