AISD to begin meal service for remote learners Tuesday

ABILENE – As it did during the spring school shutdown because of COVID-19, the Abilene ISD Student Nutrition Department will once again aid in the feeding of district students.

Those students who have chosen to participate in school as remote learners will be able to get both breakfast and lunch through the school district beginning Tuesday, Sept. 1, at one of five school locations throughout the city: Bonham or Martinez elementary schools, or Craig, Madison or Mann middle schools. Breakfast will be served from 8-8:30 a.m. each day with lunch service set for 1-1:30 p.m.

However, unlike the spring when the district fed anyone who needed or wanted a meal for free, the breakfast and lunch options are only available to students currently enrolled in the AISD. Also, the meals will follow the pricing guidelines for normal school operations.

Students who would normally pay full price for a meal if they were on campus will pay that same price for a remote-learner meal: $2 for elementary and secondary breakfast, $3 for secondary lunch and $2.75 for elementary lunch.

Students who are on reduced-price meal plan will pay 30 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch. Any student who qualifies for a free meal plan will still receive free breakfast and lunch.

In addition to those meal prices, the AISD Meal Charging Policy remains in place for remote learners. Elementary students may charge up to $6 and secondary students up tp $3. Once that level has been reached, an entrée exchange will then take place and the student will be served a cheese sandwich.  The student will receive the other components including milk; only the entrée is affected.

Parents or students can pick up the lunch at any of the five locations no matter where the student is enrolled. However, parents or students will need to provide the name and student ID number for verification purposes.

Also, if parents or students want to put money on a meal account they can do so at the drive-thru line. However, the district won’t be giving change so checks or exact change is preferred.