Dear Parent / Guardian:
The start of the 2013-2014 school year will begin soon. The Bearcat
Diner staff is busy getting ready for the new school year. Elementary
schools will continue to have an “A” and “B” choice at lunch. We will
once again offer the option of “restaurant pizza” at the Middle Schools
and High School due to the popularity of this option. The restaurant
pizza meal will be priced at $3.00 to help offset the higher cost for
this item. We will still offer two other options at the regular meal
price on the days we serve restaurant pizza.
We will be using our electronic point of sale system to manage lunch accounts as we have in the past. All
students will be using their 5 digit student ID number and be expected
to memorize it for use in the cafeterias. (We will have lists at the
cashier area to help those that forget it). The lunch ID number is the
same as their student ID # and will remain the same throughout the
student’s time in the school system.
Now is a good time to start sending in payments to get your family lunch account ready to go. The Bearcat Diner will not
extend credit to families for purchase of meals or a la carte food
items. It is necessary to keep money in the family account so students
can continue to purchase against it. Remember: Your Lunch account is a
debit system.
It is your responsibility to manage your family lunch account
balance. Please make checks payable to Bearcat Diner. We will notify
families when their balances start to get low. If the family account
balance falls to zero or is in the negative, the students will be asked
to pay cash. The Bearcat Diner will not extend credit. Payment
to your account can be dropped off at your school or mailed to 4611
Avenue N (Sunrise Middle School). We prefer that you do not mail cash. For your convenience a payment drop off box behind City Hall along with the other utility payment drop off boxes is available. Kearney Public Schools has a program called e~Funds For Schools
that allows parents additional payment options. E-Funds is a way to
make payment to your child’s school lunch account, via the internet,
using a credit card or transferring money from your checking
account. Call for information on how to use this feature.
Students from families whose income is below certain designated
levels are eligible for free meals or meals at a reduced rate. To
determine if your family qualifies, your family must complete an
application. Enclosed please find a Free or Reduced Priced Meal Application.
You only need to fill out one application per family, but be sure to
include all family members on the one application. The application
information is kept confidential. A new application MUST be completed every school year.
Bryant, Central, Emerson, Kenwood, Meadowlark, Northeast, Sunrise
Middle School, Horizon Middle School, and the High School will have
breakfast programs for the 2013-2014 school year.
The Bearcat Diner will provide a detailed lunch account summary
only upon request.We do offer many options to allow families to monitor
their family lunch account: 1) Call anytime between the hours of 8:00
a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for your account balance; phone
numbers are 698-8159 (Janet), 698-8158 (Terrie). If no one answers at
the time you will always be able to leave a voice message and someone
will return your call as soon as possible. 2) If you have Internet
access you may email Janet at janet.bugay@kearneypublic.org to inquire about your balance or check the website at www.wordwareinc.com
(call to get your Family ID # and your Pin #). You may follow the
“Monthly Payment Schedule” provided to all families at the beginning of
each school year. 4) The Bearcat Diner utilizes an Automated Calling
System that calls weekly notifying you if your account balance is
getting low or is in the negative.
If you have a change in address, phone number or
family status, please notify our office so we can keep our records
current. To notify our office please call 698-8158. Thank you for participating in the school food service program!
