We proudly serve healthy, delicious meals to Niskayuna students every day.
Allergy Aware, Allergy Prepared
Please be advised, there have been recent changes to the District’s practices around nuts in schools and other allergy protocols, which have gone into effect this school year. For more information please refer to the Allergy Aware, Allergy Prepared page.
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
The link below will bring you to our digital meal menus. These can be sorted by school, allergens and other information about products and ingredients.
Niskayuna Digital Breakfast & Lunch Menus (most accurate/updated)
Available Daily & Gluten-Free Options
If you have any problem accessing menus on this page, please contact communications@niskyschools.org.
Breakfast Information
Breakfast is available at all schools. Learn more about breakfast options.
Free Meals Information
All Niskayuna students are eligible to receive free school meals (1 breakfast and 1 lunch per day), regardless of family income, through New York State Provision 2.
What Parents Need to Know
- Meals are Free: Children are not charged for breakfast or lunch, regardless of household income.
- Forms Still Matter: No application is required. Families are encouraged to complete the online Household Income Form. This form is used to secure essential state education funding, technology grants, and can even qualify your child for fee waivers on college applications, AP testing, or summer EBT benefits. The online form is confidential and only requires selecting an income range.
Please note that additional meals, snacks, and à la carte items are not included and will still need to be purchased. Students may pay for these items using cash or funds available on their LINQ Connect accounts. Parents/guardians also have a no-cost option to add funds to their child’s account by sending cash or a check directly to their child’s school.
For questions about the Household Income Form, please contact Program Specialist Susan Frank at susan.frank@neric.org or 518-464-5133.
Payment Options
Credit Card
- Fee = 3.95% of Transaction with a minimum of $2.85
- $72.15 is the threshold for the minimum vs. percent-based: Payments lower than that are subject to the minimum of $2.85 and payments higher are subject to the 3.95% fee.
Alternatives
- Send cash or a check to the school – No Fee
- ACH (Electronic Check) directly from Bank Account to LINQ CONNECT – $0.99 fee for all transactions. See additional information below.
LINQ Connect Prepaid Meal Accounts
We use LINQ Connect to enable families to pay for school lunches and manage their child’s account online.
LINQ Connect allows parents to:
- Set low-balance reminders.
- Set up automatic meal payments and transfer funds between students.
- Create spending limits for the account.
- Manage your account using the LINQ Connect app available in the Apple App store and Google Play.
- View school lunch menus directly in the app.
- iPhone – Apple Store
- Android – Google Play Store
To sign-up and access the online service, visit the LINQ Connect website. From this site, you can create an account and add money to your child’s school meal account. When creating your account for the first time, you will need your child’s name and birth date or student ID number. You can find your student ID number in the PowerSchool Parent Portal on the Student Information page.
Please note that online payments made through LINQ Connect assess a service fee. Families that do not wish to pay this fee can send a check to school with their child. The check should be in an envelope addressed to the school cafeteria, made out to “Niskayuna Central School District,” with the child’s name and “Meal Account” in the memo line.
Food Assistance Resources
Local Food Pantries
- Schenectady Community Ministries (SICM) Food Pantry
Address: 837 Albany Street, Schenectady, NY 12307 - St. Luke’s Pastoral Center & Daily Bread Food Pantry
Address: 1247 State Street REAR, Schenectady, NY 12304 - Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York
Address: 965 Albany-Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110
SNAP
SNAP provides monthly benefits to buy food at grocery stores, farmers markets and other locations. SNAP helps families stretch their food budget so kids can get the nutrition they need to learn and grow. See if you are eligible on the Hunger Solutions New York website and apply for SNAP online.
The Nutrition Outreach and Education Program (NOEP) offers one-on-one help applying for SNAP. NOEP can tell you if you may be eligible for SNAP, answer questions and help with your application. It’s free and confidential. Find a NOEP Coordinator near you.
Summer Food
Protection Against Discrimination
In accordance with federal civil rights law and USDA civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices, employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.
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 state or local agency that administers the program or contact USDA through the Telecommunications Relay Service at 711 (voice and TTY). Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program discrimination complaint, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint 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, Mail Stop 9410
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or - Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
- Email:
program.intake@usda.gov
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Policies and Statements
Board of Education Policy 5660: School Food Service, Charging Meals and Meal Shaming