Cash or check deposits can be made in person to the lunchroom cashier or you may leave it with the school secretary if the cashier is not available.

Ellensburg School District has chosen MealTime Online to provide the opportunity for you to make credit/debit card deposits into your student's cafeteria account or view your student's purchase history online.

1. Create a MealTime Online profile. Select "Create New Profile" and create a Username and Password.
2. Add your student. Login to your MealTime Online account (using the Username and Password that you created in Step 1). Select “Meal Account Deposits” then select "Add New Student" and add your student by entering their first name only and their Student ID number with the leading zero. Repeat to add more students.
3. Make a Deposit. Select "Make Deposit" to make a deposit into a school account. Select "View Details" next to your student's name to view their cafeteria account balance and purchase history. There is a $25 minimum deposit and a small transaction/convenience fee for making deposits online. A deposit can be divided between multiple accounts.

Note: Online deposits are retrieved and added to your student’s balance at their school every five minutes. Student information, such as purchase history and their current cafeteria account balance are updated on the web site every four hours.

How to Track a Student’s Meal Account:

Online: Mealtime Online — You can track your student's account via the online service as well as set-up low balance notifications to remind you to add funds to your students account.

In Person: Please feel free to check with your school’s cafeteria cashier. They will be happy to assist you.

Notifications via Email: Please make sure your email address is updated with your child’s school. Our Elementary School Cashier will send out low balance and negative account balance notifications on a weekly basis. (Please note email notifications do not include funds borrowed from parent group accounts.)

Contact the Food Service Department Office: Please feel free to reach out to our main office by phone (509) 925-8217 or email Alexandra Epstein-Solfield@esd401.org.

We can provide up-to-date account information as well as assist you with registering with Mealtime online.

Yes. It is the student’s/family’s responsibility to maintain a positive account balance. The lunchroom cashier can give you your child’s balance or you may also contact the Child Nutrition Office at (509) 925-8217.

1. Go to My Mealtime and sign in
2. Select the "Meal Account Deposits" icon
3. Select "Update Your Email Settings" on the Profile page
4. Verify your email address is correct, select "Low Balance Notification"
5. Enter the amount you want to use. When the balance falls below this amount, you will be sent an email. You will only be notified by email once.

Note: You can enter amounts from 0 to 99.99.

Once you have set up the email notification, you will no longer see the announcement on the Payments page. To change your low balance notification settings, select Profile at the top of the page.

Meal accounts need to be kept current to ensure your student is able to obtain a meal. There are several ways to keep track of your student’s account.

Understanding that an occasional mishap may occur, students are allowed to charge a Maximum of two (2) meals to their account. Accounts that exceed the maximum number of borrows will be referred to the parent group fund, a limited fund to assist with emergency purchases of meals. The parent group is a limited resource and may not always be available if being regularly utilized by households.

The Ellensburg School District participates in the National School Breakfast & Lunch Program.

• You may apply for Free/Reduced meals at any time during the school year
• Applications are available in your school office, the Child Nutrition office, or the lunchroom cashier

Refunds are available upon request or when students withdraw from the district. The parent must initiate the request for a refund by contacting the school lunchroom cashier or calling the Child Nutrition office (509) 925-8217. Upon receipt of your request, a check will be issued at the next available check issuing period (30-60 days).

Any person who has a physical or mental impairment, which substantially limits one or more major life activities.

The term "physical or mental impairment" includes many diseases and conditions, a few of which may be:

• orthopedic, visual, speech, and hearing impairments;
• cerebral palsy;
• epilepsy;
• muscular dystrophy;
• multiple sclerosis;
• cancer;
• heart disease;
• metabolic diseases, such as diabetes or phenylketonuria (PKU);
• food anaphylaxis (severe food allergy);
• mental retardation;
• emotional illness;
• drug addiction and alcoholism;
• specific learning disabilities;
• HIV disease

No. Children with food allergies or intolerances do not have a disability as it is defined by the Federal Government. The school Food Service may, but is not required to, make food substitutions for them.

However, when a licensed medical authority assesses that food allergies may result in severe, life-threatening (anaphylactic) reactions, the child's condition would meet the definition of "disability," and the substitutions prescribed by the licensed physician must be made.

Only if your student participates in school breakfast and lunch regularly. Darigold Lactose-Free milk can be used in place of cow’s milk. You will need to meet with the school nurse and complete a Special Dietary Needs Request Form. This process may take some time.

Note: Students only need to take three of five items offered at lunch. They have the option to not choose milk and still receive a meal. Free water is available at all schools during meal times.