THE STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT / THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK / ALBANY, NY 12234

Office for Elementary, Middle, Secondary and Continuing Education
School Operations and Management
Child Nutrition Program Administration
Room 55, Albany, New York 12234-0055
Tel (518) 474-3956 Fax (518) 473-0018
Web address: www.nysed.gov/cn/cnms.htm

                                                                                                            May 2006

To: Food Service Directors/Managers
From: Frances N. O’Donnell, Coordinator
Subject: Charges-Adult Meals

                Recent Coordinated Review Effort (CRE) Monitoring Reviews indicate that several schools are allowing adults (teachers and staff) to charge their meals.  In some instances the account balances are significant and are not always paid.  When adults receive meals at no charge, federal funds intended to subsidize the meals for children are inappropriately subsidizing adult meals.  Adults should be paying for their meals at the time of service or setting up pre-paid accounts.

                As you plan for next year, it is important to close this budget problem by establishing a no charge policy for adult meals.  Failure to do so could leave you vulnerable to audit findings.