Meal Modifications: Dietary Restrictions and Food Allergies

Fayetteville-Manlius School District strives to serve well-balanced and nutritious meals for all students and recognizes that meal modifications may be required for some students based on their dietary needs.

The monthly meal menus for elementary, middle and high school are available online

Special Dietary Needs

Federal regulations require schools and institutions to serve meals (at no extra charge) to children who have a disability that may restrict their diet. A student with a disability is defined in 7CFR Part 15b.3 of federal regulations as one who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities of the individual, a record of such an impairment, or being regarded as having such an impairment. 

Major life activities include, but are not limited to caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping, walking, standing, lifting, bending, speaking, breathing, learning, reading, concentrating, thinking, communicating, and working. 

Food substitutions may be made for medical or special dietary needs on a case-by-case basis if supported by a statement signed by a recognized medical authority. A recognized medical authority includes physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.

Food Allergies

It is the district’s goal to create a safe environment for all students, including protecting your child from known allergens. The district will make medically necessary meal accommodations for students with food allergies upon request.

To receive meal accommodations for your child

Before any medically necessary or allergy-related meal accommodations can be made, written documentation from a recognized medical authority must be submitted to the health office at your child’s school. The required documentation must include the child’s allergy, how it impacts their diet, and the food or foods to be substituted.This information will be shared with the school nurses and the food service department. 

For additional information about meal modifications, including how to file a grievance for requests that are not granted, please contact the Food Service Department at 315-692-1842 or 315-692-1843. You can also reach out to Angela Gatenby or Diane Bergan by email: agatenby@fmschools.org, dbergan@fmschools.org.