Lunch Payment Information (LINQ)

2024-25 Free & Reduced Meal Application

The free and reduced meal application is available for all families. If you believe your family may qualify for free and/or reduced meals, please complete the application as soon as possible.

• To complete the online application, click here.

• If you prefer to complete a paper copy, call 402-537-6250 to have a copy mailed to you.

If you have questions about the application process, call 402-537-6250.

Please note If you have received a letter from PLCS telling you that your child is already approved for free or reduced-price meals this year, or if you have already submitted an application, you can disregard this email. You do not need to complete an application.

If you qualify for F & R Meals there are also Additional Benefits!

If you qualify for free or reduced meals, you will automatically qualify for many additional benefits! Benefits that will be provided to families that qualify for free and reduced meals include:

• Reduction or elimination of school fees

• Transportation or reimbursement for transportation costs for students entering PLCS under the enrollment option program

• Additional instructional support

• Scholarships based on need

• And more...

Papillion La Vista Community Schools offers online student lunch accounts through a company based out of Irvine, California called LINQ Connect. Parents can use a credit or debit card or an e-Check at any time of the day or night to make a deposit. Once a deposit is made, these funds are immediately available for use in the lunch line.

Benefits to you include:

• Convenience -The need for sending cash or checks to school is eliminated. You can put
  money in your child’s account any time of the day or night.
• Peace of Mind – The transfer process occurs in real time. This assures that if you forgot to send
  or deposit money or get a call that your child needs more money, you can quickly make an
  online deposit and know that it will reach the meal account at the school in real time.
• Account information – You will be able to check account balances and the details of your child’s
  purchases quickly and easily online.
• Faster Lunch Lines – As cash sales are eliminated in our Middle and High Schools, lunch lines
  speed up, giving our students more time to eat.

How to Get Started:
Before you register for a family account, you will need your child’s PLCS student ID number. You can get this number from the school, by calling us at 402-537-6250 or by checking the PLCS Parent Portal. Once you have this number, it’s easy to register for online deposits at https://linqconnect.com/

Click ‘Register’. You will be able to choose between a one-time payment and the recurring payment option. For more information, the support line for online deposits is LINQ Connect at 916-467-4700.

Parents may deposit money into student accounts in the following ways:

1. Send cash or checks to school with students. Checks should be made payable to Papillion  La Vista Community Schools. Cash and checks are accepted in any amount. 
2. Utilize an online deposit system through a company called LINQ Connect. To use this system, visit https://linqconnect.com to set up an account for each student or visit the Families, Lunch Payment Information (LINQ), Online Lunch Accounts section of our district website for more  information. LINQ Connect charges a processing (convenience) fee for payments made with a credit charge transaction.  The processing fee is displayed before a payment is made and  a receipt is provided after the transaction is complete. Credit Card transactions incur a 3.95% fee with a $2.60 minimum. LINQ Connect only charges a fee when a payment is made. You can use the online meal account service to view current account balances, review recent purchases, set low balance notifications, and view menu information at no charge. The fees cover the costs of maintaining the secure website and the fees that are charged to LINQ Connect for processing credit card.

Families may also qualify for free or reduced-price meals. Meal applications are accepted before the  beginning of the school year and at any time throughout the school year. Meal applications are available on the district website at www.plcschools.org, at the school, or by calling 402-537-6250.  

There may be times during the year when a student does not have enough money in their meal account to cover the cost of a meal. The following procedures outline what will occur in those instances.

Elementary Students 

• Parents will receive an automated email when a student account balance drops below $5.00. 
• Parents will receive a text message when the account balance drops below $0.
• Students will not be allowed to have a negative balance (charges) of more than $10.00.
• Food Service Staff will confer with the Building Principal when charges occur so that parent contact can be made. This may include sending letters home with students or contacting the parents directly via phone call.  

Middle School Students 

• Parents will receive an automated email when a student account balance drops below $10.00.
• Food service staff will remind students in a very discrete manner that their account balance is low.
• Parents will receive a text message when the account balance drops below $0.
• Students will not be allowed to have a negative balance (charges) of more than $7.50. In addition, charges for a la carte items that are not part of a complete meal (such as snacks and drinks) will not be allowed. 

High School Students 

• Parents will receive an automated email when a student account balance drops below $10.00.
• Food service staff will remind students in a very discrete manner that their account balance is low. 
• Parents will receive a text message when the account balance drops below $0.
• Students will not be allowed to have a negative balance (charges) of more than $7.50. In addition, charges for a la carte items that are not part of a complete meal (such as snacks and drinks) will not be allowed.

Refund of Meal Account Money for Students Leaving the School District 

There are several different situations where students leave the school district. Unused money in meal  accounts will be managed as indicated below. 

• Graduating Seniors with money remaining in their accounts will have the money transferred to the account of the youngest sibling attending the school district unless the parent or guardian requests a refund. Students without siblings attending the school district will receive cash refunds during senior checkout.
• Students who are transferring out of the district will receive refunds in the form of a check. These refunds will be mailed to the mailing address designated by the parent or to the address on file with the district. Refunds will not be issued for balances below $5.00 for students not qualified for Free or Reduced lunch unless a parent requests a refund.

Students

Breakfast
Elementary..................$1.60
Secondary...................$2.00
Reduced Price............$0.30

Lunch
Elementary..................$2.45
Middle School.............$2.70
High School Tier I.......$2.80
High School Tier II......$3.50
Reduced Price............$0.40

Milk..............................$0.75

Staff

Breakfast.....................$2.80
Lunch..........................$4.80

In addition to meals, numerous a la carte options are available in secondary schools. These items are priced individually.

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 (including gender identity and sexual orientation), 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: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, 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:

Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

Fax:  (202) 690-7442; or
Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.