point of sale purchasing

We are pleased that Massachusetts has continued offering the Universal Free School Meal Program for all students this year. This important program ensures that every student has access to a nutritional breakfast and lunch every school day at no cost to families.

As part of these changes, we want to share an update regarding the purchasing of second meals or a la carte items from the cafeteria. Beginning Monday, October 28, our point-of-sale system will not have the option for students to charge a second meal or charge a la carte items if they have a negative food service balance or insufficient funds in their online account to cover the cost of an item. This ensures that students are not able to incur costs beyond the funds that you have provided for additional food purchases beyond the full breakfast or lunch that is already provided at no cost every day. We encourage you to remind your child of this to avoid confusion at the time of purchase, and to speak with your child about your expectations for what additional food or drink items they may purchase beyond their no-cost meal, if this is something your family allows.

If you want your child to have access to purchasing a second meal or a la carte items, they may pay with cash or they must have sufficient funds in their online Food Service account. You may add funds to their food service account by logging on to your PowerSchool Parent Portal; click into your 'Payment Center' for SchoolPay, and select 'Food Services'. You may 'Add Funds Now' for one-time payments or set up 'Autopay' to automatically add a chosen dollar amount when the fund balance goes below a chosen dollar amount. Directions to make online payments to your child's account can be found here. 

The Food Service website is a great resource for FAQ's, menus, forms, and applications. We encourage you to learn more about your child's meal options at school and please reach out to the Food Service Office with questions by emailing Food Service Director Beth Nichols at bnichols@shrewsbury.k12.ma.us  or by calling (508) 841-8819.