Payment Options

Grant Community High School has a computerized debit system that allows parents to pre-pay for school food services. The computerized system uses the student I.D. numbers to allow parents to establish a Food Service account for their students. The account may be used for breakfast and lunch service. Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals also use their student I.D. numbers for school meal services. Pre-payment can be made in several different ways:

• online through Skyward Family Access,
• by check made payable to the school or
• by cash.

Instructions on how to create a student account to make Food Service payments

We do strongly recommend that you provide your student(s) with a pre-paid balance to purchase breakfast and lunch. Debit transactions are efficient, allowing student’s additional time to eat and permitting you to see what they are purchasing on account.

Food Service - Common Questions & Answers

What are the advantages of the prepay system?
Payment can be made by check on a weekly or monthly basis instead of giving your student cash for school meals. This system is convenient for parents and helps students develop budgeting skills. The Food Service Account system also helps provide faster service to students thereby allowing more time for your student to eat lunch.

What happens when the prepaid account reaches zero?
Your student can check their balance with the cashiers at any time, or by checking in their Skyward App under Food Service.  You can also check your student’s balance by logging onto Skyward Family Access.  In regards to negative balances on your students food service account, each week an email will be sent if your account is in the negative with instructions on how to pay your balance.  Should your student remain in the negative, only one Breakfast/Lunch meal can be purchased daily, adding more charges to your Students account.  Negative balances will carry over each year to a Family Food Service Account, Grant Community High School will make reasonable efforts to collect monies due in accordance with ISBE Guidelines. If your negative balance is not settled, the balance will be added to your student’s obligations account.

Can students receive refunds?
Refunds of unused funds will be made only to parents upon written request. Cash refunds will not be made to students. Students may ask for the status of their account balance any time a transaction is made. Any unused funds will automatically roll from one school year to the next – there is nothing you need to do to make that happen.

How much does school meal service cost?
An average student can expect to spend $3.60 per day for a complete lunch meal; a complete breakfast meal is $1.50.

How is a prepaid account established?
When a student begins school each year, a food account is automatically created, the previous year balance is carried over.  If a student has family members in school with them or previously they all share the same Family account.