FAQs for Staff Meals at the Cassingham Complex
Staff and students have the same access to the food. There are no ‘staff only’ items.
What’s the Cost: A full staff meal is $4.50. Middle and High School student meals are $3.75. Yes, their meals are subsidized about 70 cents in federal money. That’s why there is a difference.
What is a Meal: A meal consists of a milk, a grain, a meat or meat alternate (cheese, tofu, legumes), 2 vegetables and 2 fruits. We encourage you to maximize your purchase. Most entrees cost $2.65 and most sides cost $1.00 when purchased a la carte. When you select 2 or more sides with an entree we’ll charge you the price of a meal, $4.50, not $4.65, so optimize and grab a fruit for later and take the milk if you’ll drink it. -Alternatively, don’t take what you won’t eat. That’s the number one rule of reducing food waste. Reducing food waste is why we offer many options.
What are the fruit and vegetable sides: Fresh whole fruit, daily cut fruit, applesauce, peach or pear cups, small salad, cupped daily salads, like cucumber or potato salad, the daily hot vegetable, a small cup of the daily soup; the soup is always vegetarian. A large soup is equal to 2 small cups of soup. A combination of any of 4 of these can be added to an entree and milk to make a lunch. For students they are required to take at least one, but may take up to four.
Can items in the cold case be an entree: Yes. Sandwiches are a meat and a grain. Big salads are a meat, a grain and 2 vegetables. Add 2 more, like soup for a soup and salad meal. Hummus is a meat-alternate and 2 vegetables. Parfaits are a meat-alternate, a grain and 1 fruit. Ask anyone working in Food Service what you can add to optimize your meal. We play Meal or No Meal all the time.
When are the service hours: 11:00-12:45.
How it works: Enter the lunch line at the “enter” doors. You can ask a student to let you in front of them. They will let you. :) Grab a milk, any fruit, and tell the server which items you’d like. The soup is on the ledge, the salads are in the black cooler. There are drinks in the cooler too. When you get to the cashier tell them your ID or scan your code. If you have money on your account, they will key in the transaction and say good day. If not, have your cash or check ready to pay before you get to them. Condiments are on the other side of the cashier. We have most things, aside from salt. Pro tip: bring salt from home.
How do I get an ID: email [email protected], I will email you back with the number.
How to pay: We take cash or checks at the register, but no credit cards. We encourage you to get an ID to rest money on your account-have a positive balance, it is quicker to get you through the line than handling cash for every transaction. You can use cash or checks at the registers. Or use a credit card: go to www.payschoolscentral.com to put money on your account.
Negative balance: We will spot you a meal or two, but will cut off credit quickly. Please be considerate.
Tell me more about www.PaySchoolsCentral.com: It’s the hub of activity for information about your account. Once registered you can set up low balance reminders, pay on-line with a credit card, create a scannable ID and see account activity. There is a fee to pay on-line, but otherwise it is free to use.
Other Questions? If you have any questions about our program ask me. I love talking about food service from the Farm Bill to food allergies to monetary literacy for students.