Nutrition Services
Overview
The Berea City School District Nutrition Services Department remains committed to providing your children with nutritious and well-balanced meals to support their health and learning.
Free Breakfast and Lunch to All Students Continues for 2025-26
Students will continue to receive free breakfast and lunch, regardless of income through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program, and all students will be automatically enrolled.
The CEP is free for eligible public school districts to participate in. Districts must apply through the state, which involves calculating and submitting a percentage of students who are identified as eligible for school meals for any reason other than a free and reduced student meal application. If the percentage is 25% or higher, the district is eligible. Schools participating in the program will be partially reimbursed for each meal served. The CEP also eliminates any stigma associated with free or reduced-price meals, promoting equality and fostering a supportive atmosphere for all students.
The free meal will be the set meal for each day, although additional items will still be available for purchase. Parents are encouraged to contact Nutrition Services Supervisor Carrie Beegle at cbeegle@bereaschools.org or 216-267-2142 to discuss food allergies, special dietary needs, and any specific requirements their children may have.
Parents may continue to deposit money into their students’ accounts using Infinite Campus Food Service at any time during the school year. Please make checks payable to the school cafeteria, and funds can be dropped off in the school cafeteria prior to the beginning of the school day. Funds may also be added to your student’s account using the online site. There is no charge from Infinite Campus to use this feature or to view your student’s account. Please allow at least 30 minutes for the online payment to appear in your student’s account.
Families are asked and encouraged to complete the Income Eligibility Verification Application (must be printed and filled out) to access additional benefits, including increased state and federal funding for staff, equipment, and supplies; discounts on fees for academic assessments; and access to local scholarships, tuition assistance for dual credit and AP courses, and discounts on college application fees. By completing the application, you help the district continue to provide valuable resources and opportunities for every student.
Charging
Nutrition Services revised the district charging policy in February 2020.
Students are allowed to charge 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches before receiving a gratis meal. The intent is to decrease the amount of gratis meals district wide and also give those parents/guardians who are having financial difficulties some lenience. The goal is to ensure students are receiving a healthy, sustainable breakfast and lunch every day. This is not meant to increase the negative balance at the end of the school year. Parents are encouraged to use MealTime to pay for meals and/or to track purchases made by their student(s).
Special Diets
Special diet requests should be directed to the Nutrition Services office at 216-267-2142.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.