Food Service

Food Service Department: 586.797.1180
Linda Burk, Coordinator: 586.797.1184
Jenny Miccolis, Quality Control Manager: 586.797.1183
Susan M. Boyne, Director: 586.797.1180

Information about School Lunches

Children know what foods they like and which they don’t. At home or at school, it can be a struggle to get your child to eat what you know they need. In UCS lunchrooms, students will find food combinations that incorporate quality ingredients and foods they recognize. Meals feature the new stricter federal meal requirements that were in the news recently.  These requirements include increased portions of colorful vegetables and fruit, more healthy whole grains and lower fat entrees.   Balanced meals filled with vitamins and nutrients that support good health and learning.  Visit the Healthy Meals at School page to learn more about meal requirements.   

The Food Service Department administers the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, along with a host of other food-related services for students and staff.  For parents there are many services to make purchasing meals easy.  Visit the Lunchroom Computer System page to learn more about Lunchapp.com to fill out free/reduced lunch application and sendmoneytoschool.com to deposit money using Visa, Mastercard and Discover card. If you are paying by cash, checks should be made out to: Utica Community Schools.

If you’re looking for extra cash but want to be home when your children are, consider employment opportunities within the Food Service Department. A comprehensive “Manager Certified” training program is provided to each and every Food Service employee, as well as continuing education courses.

Create your own hours on your terms by becoming a member of the Substitute Food Service team. Substitutes work 2-3 hours a week, usually from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., you must be available to work three or more days a week. Permanent staff is hired directly from the Substitute List. Call Linda Burk today at 797-1184.  

Changes for 2011-2012

Our school lunch rooms are serving up a number of important menu changes as a result of new federal regulations. The changes will create healthier menu items for our students by requiring larger portions of fruit and vegetables.  In addition, our lunches will feature more whole grains, along with lower sodium content.  For more information, please follow this link.

The new federal law also mandates that every school district adjust its meal prices to ensure the overall rate is comparable with federal reimbursement rates.   As a result, the new requirements mandate an increased lunch price in UCS for the first time in four years. 

Lunch prices for the 2011-12 school year will be $ 2.35 for elementary, $2.60 for junior high, and $ 2.65 at high schools.  Breakfast served at selected schools will remain at $1.40. 

The Food Service Department staff members are ready to continue their partnership with parents that is focused on making sure our students are well nourished and ready to learn. 

We look forward to serving you!

Lunch Menu

Here’s the lunch to munch in Utica Community Schools!

Whether it’s a simple snack to supplement your child’s brown bag selection or a full meal, students in the Utica Community Schools offers both delicious and nutritious items from which to order in district lunch rooms.

Available in the Download Box on the right are PDF documents which contain our monthly menus at a glance. If you wish, click on the highlighted link for a printable copy, suitable for posting on any family refrigerator or bulletin board.

Carbohydrate information is now available under the menu section. Carbohydrate information for the elementary and secondary menus, as well as, a comprehensive list of foods used featured at breakfast and lunch. 

Please review this site often for the latest menu updates.

Breakfast Options
Attention students at: Ford, Stevenson, Utica High, Advance Path, Bemis, Davis, Eppler, Heritage, Jeannette, Browning, Burr, Collins, DeKeyser, Dresden, Flickinger, Graebner, Harvey, Havel, Monfort, Oakbrook, Plumbrook, Roberts, Schuchard, Schwarzkoff, W. Utica and Wiley.

Start the day right!
Come join us for breakfast.  Nutritious breakfast is available as students arrive to school.  A variety of food choices are available.  Breakfast cost including milk is $1.40 for paid students, reduced priced $ .30 cents and free for students with an approved application.  Milk cost only $ .45.  We look forward to serving you.

Computerized Cash Register System

Lunch – Break from the Old and into the New!

The UCS Food Service Department is immersed into the 21st century, making it easier than ever for you to ensure your child is covered when it comes to meals. Computerized online systems provide fast and easy service for the more than 29,000 students within the district.

Meal Applications – Visit Lunchapp.com to learn more about free/reduced lunch programs providing meals at no cost or a reduced rate of 40-cents per day. Applications can be filled out online, or paper applications can be obtained and returned to any school office. Only one application is needed per family. (Preschoolers should not be placed on the application as students, since they do not have an ID number yet. Include preschooler in the family member section of the application.) Remember to allow two weeks to complete the application process.

The online lunch account provides more convenience in managing your child’s account! Sign up today! You’ll find online services are the most convenient way to manage your child’s lunch account. 

Visit sendmoneytoschool.com to set up your account – you will need your child’s ID number to apply. If you do not have the number on hand, contact the school office.  Once your sendmoneytoschool account is set up, deposits can be made to your child’s cafeteria account using Visa, MasterCard or Discover. (A flat service fee of $1.50 will be charged to your credit card.) You can access accounts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to view account balances or your child’s meal or snack selections free of charge. For a limited-time incentives are available for online deposits of $50 and $100 dollars, see the menu for more details.

Lunches may still be purchased with cash or check; however amounts of less than $20 will not be accepted. This practice helps avoid costly data entry errors and provides students with fast, effective service. Checks should be made to Utica Community Schools Food Service Department. Checks returned for Non Sufficient Funds (NSF) will be accessed a $25 fee.

Full lunches are $2.35 for elementary students,  $2.60 for junior high students and $ 2.65 for high school students.  Milk is 45-cents at all levels.

 

Healthy Meals at School

The federal government has enacted the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010.  This legislation is makes adjustments to nutritional requirements for the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. 

While much of the information is still being communicated to schools, U.C.S. food service department is working forward to implementing the new requirements.  

Highlighted below is a general summary of changes you will see on the plate:

• Larger portions of vegetables and fruits 

• More whole grains

• Leaner entrees with reduced sodium

• More servings of beans & legumes

• More dark green leafy vegetables and orange & yellow vegetables

• Less starchy vegetables served

• Meal Selection change – A school lunch meal has 5 meal components.  Students may take all 5 or they may decline 1-2 meal components, however 1 fruit or vegetable must be selected to be considered a lunch.  

Parents, we're in this together……    Please talk to your child about nutrition and encourage them to select and eat a variety of foods each day. Healthy habits are learned and last a lifetime. Please contact the Food Service office with questions or concerns 586-797-1180.

 Thank you for your business.