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Please note that there is a mimimum of a $25 transaction that must be loaded onto your children's accounts if using a credit card.  Any amounts below this will need to be sent as check or cash and given to the lunch room staff.

1. Register
   • Click Register
   • Select I'm a Parent and click Next
   • Enter your school district name and click Next
   • Enter your name and contact information, and click Next Step
   • Set up your username and password
   • Select a Security Question and enter a Security Answer, and click Next Step
   • Click I'm not a robot and follow the reCAPTCHA prompts (if they appear)
   • Check I accept the Terms & Conditions and click Create My Account
      

2. Add Your Student(s)

• Click Students ➔ Student Accounts
• Click Add a Student
• Enter your student's Student ID
• Select your student's School
• Click Search & Verify Student
• Click Add this Student

3.  Add Payment

• Click My Account ➔ Payment Sources
• Click Add a Card
• Enter a short Friendly Card Name to identify the card
• Enter your Card Number
• Enter Card Expiration date
• Click Add Card

4. Make a Payment

• Click Students ➔ Make a Payment
• Enter dollar amount in Payment for each student
  • If you see the "Other District Payments" page, enter dollar amount(s) as needed
  • If you don't see the "Other District Payments" page, skip to the next step
• Click Next
• Select a Payment Source, or enter card information for a one-time payment
• Click Submit Payment 

 

Set Automatic Payment

1. Click Students ➔ Automatic Payments
2. Click Set in a student listing
3. Enter dollar amount in Payment Amount
4. Enter dollar amount in Balance Threshold to trigger an automatic payment
5. Select a Payment Source, or enter information for a new card
6. Enter a date in Expire Auto Pay On to stop automatic payments
7. Click Save

 

Set a Low Balance Alert

1. Click Students ➔ Student Accounts
2. Click (Low Balance Alert) in a student listing
3. Enter dollar amount to trigger the alert in Threshold
4. Enter the number of days to expire before resending the alerts
5. Click Save

 

Nixa cannot help you with your account issues.  To contact SchoolCafe directly use the following information:

• Support Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST
• Phone: 855.PAY2EAT (855) 729 2328
• Email: customercare@schoolcafe.com
• Website: www.schoolcafe.com

Q:  What is Schoolcafé; why do I need it and how do I find it?

A:  Schoolcafé is the platform the district uses for everything food service. You can find their website at www.schoolcafe.com. On their website you can fill out the Free & Reduced application, view your students transaction history, account balances, create low balance thresholds, and now add money to your students meal accounts as well! Previously we utilized the Schoolcafé system for meal program payments, but with the district no longer using the Schoolcafé platform, this gave us the opportunity to switch the meal payments into our Schoolcafé account so everything meal related is in one spot!

 

Q:  How do I contact Schoolcafé?

A:  You can contact them using their website, email or phone. Any technical questions you have about user names, passwords or your account not working properly, contact their customer support at: 

Phone: 855.PAY2EAT (855) 729 2328

Email: customercare@schoolcafe.com

Website: www.schoolcafe.com

Support Hours: 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. CST

 

Q:  What is my student’s ID number to setup my Schoolcafé account?

A:  Email the meal program at mealprogram@nixaschools.net or contact the district registration office at registration@nixaschools.net to be provided with your students ID number.

 

Q:  How much money can I put on my students account?

A:  Using a credit/debit card, you can add a minimum of $25 up to a maximum of $150 per transaction. If you have multiple children, you may have to make additional payments if the amount exceeds $150. If you want to pay less than $25, you will need to send payment, in an envelope, to the school lunch cashier in cash or check form. Be sure to label the envelope with your students name and ID number.

 

Q:  When can my student use the online payment I made?

A:  Your student’s cafeteria account at the school is credited within 24 hours, but may be available as quickly as 2 hours.

 

Q:  Why was my account locked when making a payment?

A:  After 3 failed attempts, the payment function is locked. Contact Schoolcafé to remove the lock.

 

Q:  What if I have several students in different schools?

A:  Include as many students as needed in your account. The students can attend any school within the same district. You can separate your payment between students, as you wish, (up to $150 per transaction).

 

Q:  Can I transfer money from one child to another?

A:  Yes! Once you are logged into Schoolcafé, navigate to the student you want to transfer money from and press “Transfer or Donate Unused Fund.” Choose the option you want and follow the step by step directions until you have successfully submitted the transfer between your students.

 

Q:  My students account is out of control; they are spending too much money! What can I do?

A:  It is the parent’s responsibility to watch their student’s transaction history on the Schoolcafé website to know what they are purchasing each day. Have a conversation with your student making your expectations on meal spending clear. It is not the school cashiers responsibility to enforce the expectations you have communicated with your student.

 

Q:  My child is on the Free/Reduced meal program. Why am I being charged?

A:  Please review your student’s transaction history on the Schoolcafé website to see if they are purchasing Á la carte items or extra trays. As a reminder, only a full USDA approved meal tray receives the Free/Reduced benefit.

 

Q:  What is considered a Full approved meal tray?

A:  A free or reduced-price full school lunch (a federally reimbursable meal) is made up of five essential food components:   fruit, vegetable, grain, meat/meat alternate, fluid milk.  Under Nixa’s offer vs. serve rule, a student’s tray must include at least three of these five components, and one of those choices must be a ½-cup serving of a fruit or a vegetable. 

*If a student gets an entrée only, it is considered Á la carte and therefore will be charged to their meal account.

 

Q:  What if my student has special dietary needs?

A:  If your student has dietary restrictions, please contact Thomas Jeffries, Food Service Manager, at thomasjeffries@nixaschools.net .

 

Q:  What happens to the money in my account at the end of the school year? What if I need to receive a refund?

A:  Your account balance moves with your student(s) from grade to grade and school to school within the district. Contact the meal program office at the school district for assistance with a refund.

 

If you have any further questions about your student’s charges, balance, etc., please contact the meal program at mealprogram@nixaschools.net or 417-724-6183.