Food Services

We know that providing a healthy diet for children is important to parents. We want you to know that it’s important to us as well. We offer nutritious, well-balanced meals for our students. You can be sure that every lunch has a fruit, vegetable, protein, and carbohydrate. We also provide milk with each lunch. Free language assistance, auxiliary aids, and/or accommodations are available upon request. If you ever have questions about our lunches or meal service, give us a call. We’ll be happy to help you.

January 2023 Update

On December 14, 2022, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman announced that the Arizona Department of Education will allocate $6.75 million in pandemic relief funds to waive fees for students qualifying for reduced-price school meals.

Beginning in January 2023, all students qualifying for reduced meals will qualify for free meals. If you feel you may qualify and have not filled out an application, you may do so at this time. In addition, if your financial situation has changed and you already filled out an application, you can re-apply.

Whether you are applying for the first time or re-applying, it is easier than ever to fill out an application. Please stop by any school and pick one up.

Please contact the Food Services Department at (623) 474-5535 with any questions.

Department Staff

Connie Carrillo
Assistant Director of Food Service
(623) 474-5559

Dorothy Hernandez
Food Services Director
(623) 474-5535

Resources

We have found some great resources to help you and your children stay healthy. Please click on the links below for more information and a great reference guide for parents.

Meal Prices

Below are our meal prices during the regular school year.

Breakfast

  • Free

Elementary and Middle School Lunch

  • $2.85

  • Reduced - $0.40

High School Lunch

  • $3.35

  • Reduced - $0.40

Delinquent Account Policy

Students and district employees have an automatic meal account set up with a unique ID number. As meals are received, your account will be charged. Credit will be made to your account as payments are received. Payments may be received by check, money order, or cash. Please make payments in the morning as to not slow the serving line during meal times.

Charges are an extreme hardship on the Food Service Department. When your student's account reaches a low balance, as a courtesy to you, payment reminders are sent home every Tuesday and Thursday of every week.

Once a child incurs charges of $5.70 ($6.70 for high school students), that child will no longer be provided with the regular meal. The child will instead be provided an alternate meal until the charges have been paid. This alternate meal will include a sandwich, a fruit or vegetable, and a white milk.

Student's accounts are continuous. If your child had a negative balance at the end of the previous year, that balance will reflect on the current year. If your child had a balance on the account, it will also reflect on the current year. If a child graduates and has siblings still in the district, that amount will reflect on their account.

What's for lunch

Free and reduced meals

SMUSD offers meals at a reduced cost to those that qualify. Print out the appropriate free/reduced lunch application below and return it to school with your child.