Nutrition Services

Q: May I apply if someone in my household is not a U.S. citizen?
A: Yes. You or your children do not have to be U.S. citizens for your children to qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.

Q: What if my income is not always the same?
A: List the amount that you normally get. If you normally get overtime, include it, but not if you get overtime only sometimes. For seasonal work, write in the total annual income.

Q: Will the income information or case number I give be checked?
A: It may be. We may also ask you to send written proof.

Q: How will the information be kept?
A: Information you provide on the form, and your child’s approval for meal benefits, will be protected as private data. For more information see the back page of the Application for Educational Benefits.

Q: If I don’t qualify now, may I apply later?
A: Yes. Complete an application at any time if your income goes down, your household size goes up, or you start getting SNAP, MFIP or FDPIR benefits. Please provide the information requested about children’s racial identity and ethnicity, which helps to make sure we are fully serving our community.

If your child has special dietary needs and requires a food substitution, a Special Diet Statement must be completed and returned to your Food Service manager. Please read the regulations below, and take the Special Diet Form and a copy of our menu to your doctor to complete the form.

Dietary substitutions are governed by both federal and state regulations. Those regulations and Osseo Area Schools ISD 279 procedures are summarized below. School nutrition managers are responsible for ensuring that these regulations and procedures are followed.

Lactose intolerance

Lactose-reduced milk will be made available to any student with a written request from a parent or guardian. If your child needs lactose-reduced milk, please contact the school nutrition manager at the school your child attends.

Food allergies or other dietary restrictions

All other requests for accommodations require a completed Special Diet Statement from a licensed physician. The statement must include both the items the student cannot eat and the items that may be substituted. Please bring a copy of the school breakfast/lunch menu to your physician appointment so the physician is aware of what foods are served at school. Although an annual update is not required, the district may request an updated document, as needed.

Return the original completed Special Diet Statement with the licensed physician’s signature to your school’s school nutrition manager.

All requests for modifications are decided on a case-by-case basis by the school nutrition director, district or school nursing services staff, and the site school nutrition manager. In some cases, an Individualized Education Plan or Health Plan developed by a building team will include direction regarding school meals.

School Nutrition staff members are not trained medical providers and will never determine if a child can or cannot eat a particular item. That decision belongs only to parents, guardians, or licensed medical providers. Parents or guardians are welcome to visit our kitchens and review the ingredient statements on labels at any time by making an appointment with the school nutrition manager at their child’s school. However, ingredients may change at any time without notice by the manufacturer. Please be aware that we cook and bake from scratch in all of our kitchens, including using flour products and making bread. Our kitchens are not wheat-free facilities.

For questions or concerns regarding special diet accommodations for students, please contact Colleen Fairbanks, Coordinator of Food and Nutrition at 763-391-7066.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.