Culinary Arts

It is the philosophy of the District to provide nutritious meals to all students who wish to have a meal as well as students who are eligible for a free or reduced-price meal per the regulations of the National School Lunch Program. Parents/guardians are responsible for either providing their children with meals, or the District in conjunction with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts offers universal free lunch and breakfast to all students in the school. The District also participates in the Community Eligibility Provision. The school does not allow the charging of any second meal or a la carte foods students may want to purchase. We do have student accounts where parents/guardians may send in a check or add a cash payment to add to a student’s account to purchase any extra lunches or any of the a la carte foods we sell for example: bottled spring water, cookies, extra milk etc. Under no circumstance will any student be denied the first breakfast and/or the first lunch meal. A child will not be denied a school meal because of parental negligence as we know this unfairly punishes children and impedes their ability to learn.

This policy is informed by regulations and guidelines published by the United States Department of Agriculture under the National School Lunch Program, Massachusetts General Law, and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office for Food and Nutrition Programs.

a)    Policy on Communicating Student Food Account Balances
Parents/guardians of students who have a negative account balance will receive an email communicating the negative balance amount until it is rectified. The use of automated telephone calls will also be employed for the collection of delinquent accounts. Parents/guardians may replenishment their child’s account by sending in a check made out to McCann Technical School or send in a cash payment with your child to the cashiers in the cafeteria to avoid negative account balances.

b)    Policy on Charging Meals and a la carte Items
All students are entitled to one complete breakfast and one complete lunch at no cost each day. Students may purchase an additional meal or a la carte items if they have a positive fund balance on their account or pay for it at the point of sale registers. Students with a negative fund balance or insufficient funds to cover an optional purchase may not purchase an additional meal or a la carte items.

c)     Policy on Delinquent Debt Collections
Payment for negative account balances may be made at any time by parents/guardians or students. The parent/guardian may contact the school lunch head cook or the food service director to review the charges or account balances by calling (413) 663-5383 ext. 171 during the school day. Students may also rectify their account by paying cash or by check to the cashier at the school. Parents/guardians may also rectify negative accounts by making a check payment to the McCann Technical School and mailing it or dropping it off at the Food Service Director’s Office, McCann Technical School, 70 Hodges Cross Road, North Adams, MA 01247. When a student account balance goes negative to a sum that exceeds one time the cost of a lunch meal, this will be considered a delinquent account. The Food Service Director will then begin collection efforts in the following order: first by having the cashiers verbally remind the students about their low or delinquent accounts to remind them to pay. Second, we will email and or call the respective parent or guardian. Third the Food Service Director will share a negative account balance report with school assistant principal because this information may be useful as an additional symptom of a larger problem that the student and their family are experiencing. If attempts by the Food Service Director do not result in payment, then the delinquent account will be sent to the School District Office. The District Office will attempt collection through parent/guardian communications. Collection efforts may result in denial of access to discretionary school programs, pursuit in small claims court. Denial of access to school programs as noted above may include but is not limited to: graduation activities or ceremonies, and/or participation in extra-curricular/after school programs, and other, optional, fee-based programs. All delinquent account charges must be settled at the end of the school year or any time a student leaves the school.

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted 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. 20250-9410; or
2. fax:
   (833) 256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
3. email:
   Program.Intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

MGL C. 71, Section 72

United States Department of Agriculture, National School Lunch Program Regulations

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office for Food and Nutrition Regulations

McCann Technical School will set goals to create:

• A well rounded, healthy school environment that supports the physical, mental, emotional and social well-being and safety of all its members.
• Student Support Programs to help address students’ physical, emotional, social and cognitive needs. These programs include, but are not limited to, extracurricular activities, peer programs, student assistance programs and mentoring.
• Adult Support Programs to provide information and support to adults directly involved in the care and education of the students. These programs will include professional development for staff, parent education and support programs and employee assistance and wellness programs.
• Family and community connection between schools, the community and the families that live and work within them. These relationships involve networking, cooperation, coordination and collaboration on health promotion and youth development.
• Support the health of all students, staff and faculty with a full time registered nurse available during school hours. The nurse’s duties are to provide safe care, medication administration and state mandated health care screenings. The nurse also serves as a resource to staff in helping provide a better learning environment for students.

McCann Technical School will support a Health Education Program that will:

• Encourage students to understand human development as it relates to the physical, emotional, and social well-being of the individual. This includes building an awareness of the dangers of substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and bullying.
• Emphasize learning healthy behaviors and practice the skills learned to lead a healthy lifestyle.
• Be appropriate to students’ developmental levels, cultural backgrounds and genders.
• Encourage students to become more aware of their personal health habits, set goals for improvement and resist peer and social pressures.
• Involve parents and families in students’ lifestyle choices and learning.

McCann Technical School will support a Physical Education program that will:

• Promote an appreciation of lifetime health and fitness.
• Provide a variety of different physical activities.
• Provide competitive games that promote cooperation.
• Provide options for students who have differences in athleticism, culture and gender.
• Educate the importance of fair play and sportsmanship.
• Promote participation in physical activity outside of school.
• Physical education staff will not use physical activity as a form of discipline or punishment.
• Work with the community to provide a safe way for students to bike or walk to school.

McCann Technical School will:

• Comply with the current United States Department of Agriculture guidelines for Americans including: vending machines, A La Carte, fundraisers and concession stands.
• Follow nutrition guidelines that require the use of food products that are high in fiber and protein, low in added fats, sugar and sodium and served in appropriated portions.
• Implement a production system to reduce the use of processed foods and increase the use of fresh foods that emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and dairy products which are low in fat, added sugars and sodium.
• Allow students to decline a certain number of meal items that they do not intend to consume.
• Implement nutrition policies and guidelines for reimbursable meals that shall not be more restrictive than federal or state regulations require.
• Provide A la cart offerings that shall be nutritious and meet appropriate standards, and not allow any home prepared meals.
• Recognize the importance of this policy and work to ensure its compliance.
• Ensure that students do not share food or beverages with each other.
• Incorporate nutrition education, proper eating techniques and proper social eating behavior into the curriculum.
• Allow time for students and staff to have optimum access to hand washing or sanitizing before consuming meals.
• Provide students least 10 minutes after sitting down, for breakfast, and 20 minutes for lunch.
• Administer the school food program through qualified nutrition professionals.
• Provide access to professional development for all food service staff and ensure each staff member maintains appropriate certifications.
• Not allow vending machine sales of soda or candy to  be permitted during the school day.
• Not use food as a part of any student incentive or awards program.
• Not permit fundraising activities that sell candy, snacks, soda, or sweets.

To promote hydration, free, safe, unflavored drinking water will be available to all students throughout the school day and throughout every school campus. The District will make drinking water available where school meals are served during mealtimes.