Child Nutrition
The goal of the VBSD Child Nutrition Department is to better educate the students of the Van Buren School District in the role of good nutrition and the importance of making nutritious choices at meal time. All schools in the district operate under the Horizon/Onesource meal program.
Each menu is planned using USDA nutrition guidelines adopted by the Arkansas Department of Education. Elementary school cafeterias use the “Offer vs Serve” plan, which allows children to make choices for their meals. Students in grades 6-12 are allowed more flexibility through the “Scramble System” and have the option of the main dish, basket meal, or salad bar during lunch.
VBSD Child Nutrition will begin accepting bids for grocery, paper and supplies on May 10 2023, and all bids are due back digitally no later than noon on June 9, 2023. You can request bid information by emailing tessa.clemmons@vbsd.us.
VBSD Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Meal Costs
VBSD will continue to provide FREE breakfast to ALL K-12 students for the 2022-2023 school year.
The federal USDA waiver that allowed school districts to provide lunches at no cost to students expired on June 30. As a result, families who don't qualify for free or reduced price meals will be required to pay for lunches for the 2022-2023 school year. Families MUST apply to qualify for free or reduced lunch prices for the 2022-2023 school year.
Breakfast (all students) - FREE
Student Lunch (regular) - $2.85
Student Lunch (families qualifying for free or reduced) - $.40 or Free
All adults, e.g., visitors, teachers, support staff members, and administrators, must assume the full cost of meals. Breakfast for adults is $2.50 and lunch is $3.50.
If your family meets or falls below these income guidelines, you qualify for free lunch in the Van Buren School District.
Van Buren School District Free Meals Qualification Guidelines
Meal Payment
K-12 students are issued a number which is entered as the student comes through the meal line. Food costs are deducted from the account and a daily record is maintained. Parents may send a check or cash to school to pay on their child's meal account. They may also make payments online at the MyPaymentsPlus website for a fee of 4.75% per transaction. Parents can view their child's account on the MyPaymentsPlus website at no charge. Parents may request a record of their child’s meal activity and payments. Questions regarding payment options, help with online payments, or a child’s meal account activity can be answered by the school cafeteria manager or by calling the VBSD Child Nutrition Office at 479-474-4736.
Free & Reduced Meal Applications
Families MUST apply to qualify for free or reduced meal prices for the 2022-2023 school year. Students who do not qualify for free or reduced price meals will be required to pay for lunches for the 2022-2023 school year. The meals application can be completed online at https://vanburen.strataapps.com.
Paper applications for free or reduced meals may be picked up from each school office or the Child Nutrition Department in the VBSD Service Center, located at 2804 Industrial Park Road.
For additional information concerning Child Nutrition contact Tessa Clemmons, Child Nutrition Director, at 479-474-4736.
2022-2023 Reduced Price Meals Chart.png
Additional information
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.
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 Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: How to File a Comolaint, 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 Washington, D.C. 20250-941O;
2. Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
