Quality nutrition, quality service, quality food

Did you know that students who are well nourished are shown to have increased problem-solving abilities, better memory, stronger verbal fluency and more creativity?

That is a key reason why the City School District of Albany makes every effort to provide students with nutritious and tasty meals during the hours they are in school. This includes breakfast in the morning, lunch in the afternoon and, in some schools, an after-school snack serving during extended-day programs.

Payment policies

Each student is expected to pay for meals with cash or a debit account they may set up. The Board of Education encourages parents to assume the responsibility of paying for those meals. If parents are unable to pay, the Board encourages them to complete the necessary paperwork for free or reduced-price meals (click here for more information).

The Board also recognizes that a student occasionally comes to school without breakfast or lunch money and expects those students be treated with dignity and compassion. The Board adopted guidelines for those students. Click here to read the full policy.

District offers new fare as of January

Students have a variety of new breakfast and lunch options as of Jan. 4

The City School District of Albany has chosen a new food service management group, Whitson's Culinary Group, to provide breakfast and lunch to all schools.

Whitson's buys its produce locally whenever it is available. All milk and chicken products it offers are antibiotic- and hormone-free. Also, bread and bread products are 100 percent whole grain and contain no high-fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils.

In addition:

• Menus are subject to change

• Prepaid meals are encouraged

• Low-fat, chocolate and unflavored milk is available daily

• We will offer a turkey equivalent when pork products are served

For more information, contact Stacy Coughlin, Whitson's onsite food service director, at 462-7322 or scoughlin@albany.k12.ny.us.

Breakfast and lunch prices increase for 2009-10

Breakfast and lunch prices have increased in all schools for 2009-10. Breakfast is $1.25 at all schools, and lunch is $2 at elementary schools and $2.25 in middle school and high school.

However, if your family qualified for the free or reduced-price meal program, your child can receive breakfast and lunch free or for as little as 25 cents for each meal.

Information regarding the use of pork and school meals
Food Services serves turkey-based cold cuts. The bologna, ham and salami are made from turkey; no pork products are added. Hot dogs are 100 percent beef. When pork is served we will offer a turkey equivalent as an alternate. When we serve real ham or hots with pork it will be reflected as such on the menu.

All hamburger and hot dog buns also are 100 percent whole grain.

Fast facts about our Food Service program
The City School District of Albany services approximately 2,000 breakfast and nearly 7,000 lunches every day.
 

The program is entirely self-supporting, meaning that the cost is fully covered by a combination of student fees and a la carte sales.
 

The following schools prepare their food in-house:

• Albany High School

• Albany School of Humanities (ASH)

• Giffen Memorial Elementary School

• Philip Schuyler Elementary School (serving Arbor Hill Elementary School for the entire 2009-10 school year)

• Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School

• William S. Hackett Middle School

The following schools do not have their own kitchens. Students are served pre-packaged meals that are cooked each morning at Philip Livingston Magnet Academy.

• Abrookin Vo-Tech Center

• Adult Learning Center

• Delaware Community School

• Eagle Point Elementary School

• Harriet Gibbons High School

• Montessori Magnet School

• New Scotland Elementary School

• North Albany Academy

• Philip J. Schuyler Achievement Academy

• Pine Hills Elementary School

• Sheridan Preparatory Academy

• Thomas O'Brien Academy of Science and Technology