The Johnson City School Nutrition Department provides an important support service to your child's education. Our goal is to help students meet their nutrition needs on a daily basis so they can be more ready to learn. To reach this goal, the department:
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Offers nutritious, attractive, well-prepared, and affordable meals every day to all students.
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Provides experiences that help students develop wise food habits.
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Operates each cafeteria to ensure total accountability.
EZMealApp Direct Link
If you have not filled out a Free/Reduced Lunch Application for the 2022-2023 school year, then please click here to fill out an application.
Our Program
Johnson City School Nutrition operates in all eleven schools serving breakfast, lunch, and after-school snacks. The Johnson City School Meals Program has been recognized as a Program of Excellence by the School Nutrition Association. This recognition is based on exceptional administration and program accountability, nutritional integrity in menu planning, production, and procurement, and safety and sanitation.
Additionally, six schools have been recognized as Healthier US School Challenge Award recipients for exceptional programming in nutrition and physical activity. In 1993 Keystone School (the precursor to Mountain View) received a USDA Best Practice Award for one of the first Universal Breakfast Programs in the Southeast.
In 1995 Woodland School received recognition as the Tennessee School Boards Association Design of the Year. The design was also featured in 1995 in the School Nutrition Annual Conference Architectural Design Display in Anaheim, CA. This plan has served as a master plan to all Johnson City school kitchens.
Our Staff
The Johnson City School Meals Program works diligently to have the best programs available for our students. The Program Director, Karen McGahey, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition and Food Service Management. She is certified as a School Nutrition Supervisor by the School Nutrition Association. A FAME Silver Star Award winner in 2005, McGahey was recognized for her work in establishing and coordinating the NETCO purchasing cooperative.
Hannah Upchurch, Assistant Food Service Supervisor, has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from ETSU.
Because we place a high value on safety and sanitation, all cafeteria managers are Serv-Safe certified as are most of the School Nutrition employees. All employees annually attend professional development training in school meal and foodservice related topics.
School Sites and Cafeteria Managers
Cherokee -Laura England - 423-434-5288
Fairmont - Bandy Boggs - 423-328-1942
Lake Ridge - Mechille Phillips- 423-610-6035
Mountain View-Marly Eggers - 423-434-5266
North Side - Lori Deadrick - 423-434-5253
South Side -Brittany Panzenhagen - 423-434-0986
Towne Acres - Megan Backers - 423-854-4808
Woodland - Amanda Gallam - 423-900-8848
Indian Trail - Darlene Johnson - 423-610-6020
Liberty Bell - BJ Ferguson - 423-794-2314
Science Hill - Debbie Grindstaff - 423-232-2199
Menus and Meal Pay Instructions
Elementary - $2.00 (breakfast) / $2.50 (lunch)
Indian Trail / Liberty Bell - $2.00 / $2.75
Science Hill - $2.00 / $3.00
School Staff: $3.00 / $4.25
Visitors: $4.00 / $5.00
Reduced - $0.30 / 0.40
Meal Assistance Applications
In a household where one or more family member(s) are currently receiving SNAP, FDPIR, or TANF benefits, any/all child(ren) in the household can be automatically eligible for free meals. In July of each year prior to the start of school, parents of previously enrolled children should receive a letter or telephone call informing them of their child(ren)’s direct certification eligibility. It will be important to check to make sure all children in the household are included and notify the School Nutrition office at 423-434-5228 if they are not.
On the first day of school, each child will be given an application for the Free/Reduced Price Meal Program to bring home. If children are not already pre-approved as noted above, parents are strongly urged to complete and return this form regardless of income. Only one application should be completed for the entire family. Be sure to list all children, even those at other schools. The school cafeteria staff will send the applications to the School Nutrition Office for processing. Letters are sent home to notify households of the status at which the child qualifies – free, reduced or full pay.
Each student attending Johnson City Schools has a computerized meal account in the cafeteria. The students are assigned an account number that is unique to them. The account will be coded appropriately for children who are full pay, reduced price, or free status therefore, the child’s status is confidential.
Note: With free and reduced-price meal benefits, a student can only get a complete meal with that benefit. If the student wants only milk or juice, they must pay full price for that ala carte item. The cafeteria manager can assist parents with ways to fully utilize meal benefits.
Students enrolling mid-year can get a free and reduced-price meal application at the school office or access a copy here:
English Forms
2022-2023 Free/Reduced Price Meal Application Parent Letter PDF
2022-2023 Application (Page 1 / Page 2)
2022-2023 Free/Reduced Price Meal Application Instructions PDF
Spanish Forms
2022-2023 Free/Reduced Price Meal Application Parent Letter PDF - Español
2022-2023 Application (Page 1 / Page 2)
2022-2023 Free/Reduced Price Meal Application Instructions PDF - Español
U.S.D.A Regulations and Policies
In accordance with Federal civil rights laws 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, 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: https://www.usda.gov/oascr/complaint-resolution, 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:
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Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
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Fax: (202) 690-7442; or
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Email: program.intake@usda.gov.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
Last Updated: July 29, 2022