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Food Services

Food Services

Sue Petonic
Food Services Supervisor
330-908-6213

Food Services News & Updates:
Breakfast $2.00 (K-8), $2.50 (9-12).  
Lunch $3.00 (K-6), $3.25 (7-12). 

Please complete a paper copy of the Free & Reduced meal application if you feel you may qualify.  For School Year 2026-2027, the State of Ohio is covering the cost of meals for those who qualify for "reduced" meals.  We are currently waiting on guidance from Ohio as to whether this will continue for the following school year. This does not affect fees - it only applies to meals.  Applications are available in every building, including the Board of Education.  

We offer a grace period at the beginning of each school year for those who were on the free or reduced meal program the previous year.  This grace period provides time for submission and processing of current years' applications. The last day of this grace period is September 30th.  Please make certain you have submitted a new application prior to that date in order to retain your child(ren)'s meal benefits.

Due to the increasing number of non-sufficient checks received by the district and the subsequent costs incurred, the cafeterias will be operated on cash or money on an account basis. No personal checks will be accepted and bills over $50 cannot be accepted.

We encourage you to set up an account at www.payschoolscentral.com.  This is a new system for Food Service but utilizes the same site as Fee Payment.  All student and adult balances from www.myschoolaccount have been transferred to PaySchools. Please note that credit cards may be used to put funds on the account, but will not be accepted in the cafeterias. *Parents are now able to transfer funds from one child to another.  Please follow instructions in PaySchools or call 1-800-669-0792 for assistance.
  
We are publishing monthly menus; however, due to continued supply chain issues, items offered may be different than what is listed on the menu.  We always have a number of choices for the students.  Our new menu system will begin in March.  The link may be found on the main Nordonia Web page under "Families."  The system will provide parents with nutritional information for each item we serve - it will just take some navigation to familiarize you with all the valuable information it contains.  https://myschoolmenus.com/organizations/2752  Thank you!

Did you know?
The school lunch program at Nordonia Hills City Schools operates according to the offer vs. serve format.  What this means to the students is that lunch will consist of five different choices (components) from each of the required food groups for lunch. Students must choose at least three components in order for the district to claim a reimbursable meal from the government.  The government pays the district a small stipend for each reimbursable breakfast and lunch served to students.  We also make use of government-offered food commodities whenever possible in order to control costs.  All menus are heart-healthy and provide daily nutrients appropriate for your child's age.  We are always adding new menu items, so stay tuned!

Attention-No Money Policy
Because school food service departments are self-funded and the USDA does not permit participants in the National School Breakfast & Lunch Program to allow negative student balances, children who have no money to pay for lunch are permitted to accumulate up to $10.00 in debt and then will be offered cereal and milk or a cheese sandwich and milk at no charge (up to three occurrences) until their account is replenished or they have cash. 

Because of the high percentage of children with peanut allergies, we no longer offer peanut butter & jelly sandwiches as a "no money" alternative. Any unpaid charges at the end of the quarter will be transferred to school fees for collection.  Please be aware that children are not permitted to buy extras if their account is in arrears. Nordonia Hills City Schools Food Service Department maintains a donor fund for special circumstances.  Families can confidentially contact Sue Petonic at 330-908-6213.

SUMMER MEALS SITES
A MAP OF SITES SERVING FREE MEALS TO KIDS 18 AND UNDER CAN BE FOUND ON THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WEBSITE.

SUN Meals/Summer Food Service Program



The Summer Food Service Program meals have a new name, now called SUN meals! All children ages 1 through 18 are eligible to receive free meals during the summer months at participating program sites. Individuals ages 19 through 21 who have been identified as having mental or physical disabilities and are following Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) through their current enrollment in educational programs also are eligible for free summer meals.

For more information call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (486479).

To report a meal site listed that is not operating please contact the Office of Nutrition:
(614) 466-2945 or (800) 808-6325  
[email protected]


Talking Health with Your Kids
  • It's Not About Weight: Weight is just one indicator of health and is often an extremely sensitive subject for kids. Emphasize how important it is to eat right and be physically active instead of just losing pounds. You don’t want to hurt their confidence or self-image.
  • Set food or activity goals: For example, stick to a plan to only have dessert twice a week or to walk 30 minutes after dinner every day, NOT to lose a certain number of pounds.
  • Talk to your doctor:  Your doctor is a great resource when talking with your child about their weight.  You can work with the doctor, a nurse, or a dietitian to help start the conversation.  Most healthcare practitioners will be happy to help if you ask.
  • Make it positive: Getting healthy is something to be excited about—it shouldn’t seem like a punishment. Talk about how fun it will be for everyone in the family to get active and try new, healthy foods.
  • Make it a family affair: Talk about how EVERYONE in the family is going to work together to get healthier. Children should not be the only ones making changes.
  • Make it relevant: Explain why being healthy is important in a way that kids will understand. Kids don’t care that being healthy now will prevent their risk of disease in the future--kids care about the here and now.
  • Kids are goal driven. Physical activity will improve their performance in sports, making them run faster or swing a bat harder. Kids want to feel good: Eating healthy will give them more energy and improve their concentration in school and with their friends.
  • Keep it social: Physical activity can be a great way to make new friends. Kids are more likely to stick with an activity if friends are involved. Encourage your kids to invite friends for active playdates such as bike riding and touch football games.
  • Treat ‘diet’ like a four-letter word: Adults don’t stick to diets, so why would kids? Teaching your children to eat and drink in moderation (including an occasional treat) will ensure they get the balanced meals they need.
  • Food is not a reward: Saying you can have ice cream after you finish your carrots makes eating carrots a chore and ice cream the reward-- the exact opposite effect you were going for.
  • Just say no to ‘exercise’! Don’t present being physically active as exercise-- kids may interpret that as a punishment. Encourage everyone in your family to try different activities and find one that suits everyone. Keep it fun!
  • Take Baby Steps: Just like kids learn to walk slowly, that’s how they should learn new habits. Don’t expect dramatic change instantly. By talking about health in an approachable way and by setting small goals that will give everyone a sense of accomplishment, your kids will start on the road towards a lifetime of healthy habits.  Remember, our kids are 10% of our population, but they are 100% of our future!
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Menus

ANNUAL PUBLIC RELEASE

PUBLIC RELEASE

 

NORDONIA HILLS CITY SCHOOLS today announced its 2026-2027 program year policy FREE AND REDUCED PRICE MEALS for students unable to pay the full price of meals or milk served under the National School Lunch and School Breakfast, After School Care Snack or Special Milk Programs.  Each school office and the central office has a copy of the policy, which may be reviewed by any interested party. The State of Ohio Budget for school year 2026-2027 includes funding to cover the cost of reduced meals for breakfast and lunch. This provision allows schools to provide no cost meals to reduced price meal eligible students.

 

The Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines will be used to determine eligibility. Children from families whose annual income is at or below the federal guidelines are eligible for free and reduced-price meals or free milk if the school participates in the Special Milk Program.

 

Application forms are distributed to all homes in a letter to parents or guardians. To apply for free and reduced-price benefits, households should complete an application and return it to the school. Additional copies are available at the principal’s office in each school. A complete application is required. Households which currently receive Special Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits (SNAP, formally known as food stamps) or Ohio Works First (OWF) funds for a child must provide the child’s name, the SNAP or OWF case number and signature of an adult household member on the application. Households that do not receive SNAP or OWF funds must provide the names of all household members, the last four digits of the Social Security Number of the adult signing the application or state “none” if the adult does not have a Social Security Number, the amount and source of income received by each household member (state the monthly income) and the signature of an adult household member.  If any of this information is missing, the school cannot process the application.

 

FREE HEALTH CARE: Families with children eligible for school meals may be eligible for free health care coverage through Medicaid and/or Ohio’s Healthy Start & Healthy Families programs. These programs include coverage for doctor visits, immunizations, physicals, prescriptions, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse and more. Please call 1-800-324-8680 for more information or to request an application. Information can also be found on the web at http://jfs.ohio.gov/ohp/consumers/familychild.stm. Anyone who has an Ohio Medicaid card is already receiving these services.

 

The information provided on the application is confidential and will only be used for the purpose of determining eligibility and may be verified at any time during the school year by school or other program official. To discourage the possibility of misrepresentation, the application forms contain a statement above the space for signature certifying that all information furnished is true and correct. Applications are being made in connection with the receipt of federal funds.  Schools or other officials may check the information on the application at any time during the school year. Deliberate misrepresentation of information may subject the applicant to prosecution under applicable state and federal laws.

 

Households will be notified of the approval or denial of benefits. 

 

Foster children are categorically eligible for free meal benefits regardless of the household’s income. If a family has foster children living with them and wishes to apply for such meals or milk for them, contact the school for more information. Under the provision of the policy, SUSAN PETONIC, FOOD SERVICE SUPERVISOR, will review applications and determine eligibility. If a parent or guardian disagrees with the decision on the application or the result of verification, the decision may be discussed with the determining official on an informal basis. If a formal appeal is desired, the household has the right to a fair hearing. A fair hearing can be requested either orally or in writing from:

 

                TODD STUART

                330-908-6207

                

 

The policy contains an outline of the hearing procedure.

 

Households may apply for benefits any time during the school year.  If a household is not currently eligible and if the household size increases or income decreases because of unemployment or other reasons, the family should contact the school to file a new application.  Such changes may make the children of the family eligible for free or reduced-price benefits if the family income falls at or below the levels shown above.

 

Nondiscrimination Statement

 

In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Mail Stop 9410, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or

3. Email: [email protected].

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
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