Quick Contact

Central Office

Dr.

Randy

McDaniel

Director of Education

Central Office

randy.mcdaniel@tvcs.org

Mrs.

Tara

Milow

Enrollment Coordinator / Security & Campus Logistics

Central Office

tara.milow@tvcs.org

Early Childhood Center

Ms.

Tabitha

Jackson

PK1-PK4
Director

TVECC @ Buffalo Ridge

tabitha.jackson@tvecc.org

Ms.

Shannon

Taylor

PK1-PK4
Executive Director

TVECC @ Middleton

shannon.taylor@tvecc.org

Buffalo Ridge Campus

Middleton Campus

Autism Center

Dr.

Brian

Greene

Principal

TVCS AC @ Buffalo Ridge

brian.green@tvcsac.org

Mrs.

Lindsey

Blaise

Operations Manager

TVCS AC @ Buffalo Ridge

lindsey.blaise@tvcsac.org

Mrs.

Katie

Langham

Secretary

TVCS AC @ Buffalo Ridge

katie.langham@tvcsac.org

Elementary School

Ms.

Teri

Mattson

Principal

VCES @ Buffalo Ridge

teri.mattson@tvcs.org

Mrs.

LeAnne

Yerk

Principal

VCES K-5 @ Middleton

leanne.yerk@tvcs.org

Buffalo Ridge Campus

Primary Center (K-1st Grade)

Intermediate Center (2nd-3rd Grade)

4th & 5th Grade Center

Middleton Campus

K-8 Building

Middle School

Dr.

Peggy

Irwin

Principal

VCMS @ Buffalo Ridge

peggy.irwin@tvcs.org

Mrs.

Cathy

Rowan

Principal

VCMS @ Middleton

cathy.rowan@tvcs.org

Buffalo Ridge Campus

Middleton Campus

High School

Mr.

Robin

Grant

Principal

VHS

robin.grant@tvcs.org

TVCS Accounting Office

Ms.

Gina

Ritch, CPA

Director of Accounting

Central Office

gina.ritch@tvcs.org

Administration

Ms.

Amy

Zimmerman

Human Resources Coordinator

Central Office

amy.zimmerman@tvcs.org

Ms.

Britnee

Augustin

Receptionist

Central Office

brittnee.augustin@tvcs.org

Ms.

Nora

Choquette

Curriculum, Data Analysis & Staff Development

Central Office

nora.choquette@tvcs.org

Ms.

Dawn

Encarnacion

Central Office Secretary

Central Office

dawn.encarnacion@tvcs.org

Dr.

Cynthia

Mergaert

Curriculum, Instruction, Assessment & Technology Supervisor

Central Office

cynthia.mergaert@tvcs.org

Mrs.

Tara

Milow

Enrollment Coordinator / Security & Campus Logistics

Central Office

tara.milow@tvcs.org

Mr.

Ted

Miraglia

Federal Funding & Grants

Central Office

ted.miraglia@tvcs.org

Ms.

Brianna

Smith

MTSS Coordinator

VHS, Central Office

brianna.smith@tvcs.org

Ms.

Sabrina

Wilson

Administrative Assistant

Central Office

sabrina.wilson@tvcs.org

Mr.

William

Fraize

IT Operations Manager

Central Office

william.fraize@tvcs.org

Administration Pages
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Food Service

Food Service

Providing quality nutrition in every meal.

The Villages Charter School (TVCS) has a goal to improve the nutritional quality of each child’s diet. Our schools provide an opportunity for optimal learning and good health by providing high quality food, excellent service and good nutrition at a reasonable cost. The School Nutrition Department works closely with teachers and parents to foster healthy eating habits and understand the importance of children developing a lifetime of healthy eating habits.

For the 2024-25 school year, The Villages Charter School is able to offer a breakfast and a lunch to every student… at no cost to you.

Our Mission

To provide each student with a safe, well balanced, nutritious and affordable meal. We provide nutrition education and promote healthy eating habits. We provide healthy breakfasts, lunches and snacks so that the students of TVCS are ready to engage in the learning environment that prepares all students to become responsible citizens in a diverse, global society.

A Healthy Vision

We strive to create and encourage a culture of healthy eating habits that will form a foundation for a healthy lifestyle to last a lifetime.

Jason

Poplaski

Food & Nutrition Services
Director

Jason.Poplaski@tvcs.org

Christa

Bell

Food & Nutrition Services
Assistant Director

Christa.Bell@tvcs.org

Joseph

Hornstein

Food & Nutrition Services
Accounts Administrator

Joseph.Hornstein@tvcs.org

Susan

Parry

Food & Nutrition Services
Kitchen Manager

VCES PC & IC @ Buffalo Ridge

Susan.Parry@tvcs.org

Tiffany

Castonguay

Food & Nutrition Services
Kitchen Manager

VCES 4-5 @ Buffalo Ridge

Tiffany.Castonguay@tvcs.org

Shannon

Falotico

Food & Nutrition Services
Kitchen Manager

VCMS @ Buffalo Ridge

Shannon.Falotico@tvcs.org

Cheryl

Lape

Food & Nutrition Services
Kitchen Manager

VCES & VCMS @ Middleton

Cheryllynn.Lape@tvcs.org

Alana "Belle"

McNeil

Food & Nutrition Services
Kitchen Manager

VCES & VCMS @ Middleton

Alana.Mcneil@tvcs.org

Andre

Dyson

Food & Nutrition Services
Kitchen Manager

VHS

Andre.Dyson@tvcs.org

Theresa

Poplaski

Food & Nutrition Services
Kitchen Manager

VHS

Theresa.Poplaski@tvcs.org

Meal Programs & Special Dietary Needs

Breakfast, Lunch and Snack Programs

Students have access to a nutritious breakfast, lunch and after school snack each school day. All meals are carefully planned and strictly adhere to USDA requirements. The Afterschool Snack Program provides a nutritious snack from two or more different food items to help students meet their nutritional needs between the lunch and evening meal, giving students additional access to fruits, vegetables, milk and whole grains, many of which are locally grown, Florida products.

Offer Verses Serve (OVS)

The goal of OVS is to reduce food waste and allow students to choose the foods they want to eat. Everyone plays a role. When students and cafeteria staff understand OVS, lunch lines move smoothly, allowing students to make the most of the lunch break and enjoy the wholesome and appealing foods they are served. It also helps reduce overall food costs. Under OVS, students must select three meal components to ensure they get the nutritional benefits of a meal. OVS is required for lunches served in high schools but is optional in middle and elementary schools. OVS is not required for meals offered as part of field trips or for any other meals served away from the school campus.

School Breakfast Program (SBP) and National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

TVCS Food and Nutrition Department operates under the SBP and the NSLP.

The SBP is federally assisted meal program operating in public and non-public private schools and residential child care institutions. The SBP started in 1966 as a pilot project, and was made a permanent entitlement program by Congress in 1975.

The NSLP is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or no-cost lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1946.

All SBP and NSLP lunches must meet Federal requirements, through decisions about the specific foods to serve and the methods of preparation are made by our Food and Nutrition professionals. Information about the SBP and the NSLP nutrition standards may be found on the School Meals website.

Explore the MyPlate Food Groups

Please note: We highly encourage you to monitor your child’s lunch account free of charge on EZSchoolPay. You may also make payments on this website with a debit or credit card for a fee of $2.00.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Breakfast Program

Lunch Program

Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Program

Snack Program

Breakfast Program

A food component is one of three required food groups in a reimbursable breakfast. These are fruits, grains, and fluid milk*.
A food item is a specific food offered within the three food components, for example, 2 slices of whole grain-rich bread, 1 cup of grapes, and 1 cup of milk. This meal meets OVS breakfast requirements because three food components and four food items are offered.

Students must select at least three of the four offered food items under OVS at breakfast, including at least ½ cup of fruit and/or vegetable.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Lunch Program

A food component is one of five required food groups in reimbursable lunches. These are meats/meat alternates, grains, fruits, vegetables, and fluid milk*.
A food item is a specific food offered within the five food components. For example, spaghetti (whole grain-rich pasta with tomato sauce) is one food item that contains a grain and a vegetable component.

Under OVS, students must select three meal components to ensure they get the nutritional benefits of a meal. OVS is required for lunches served in high schools, but is optional in middle and elementary schools. OVS is not required for meals offered as part of field trips or for any other meals served away from the school campus.
The required five food components must be offered for school lunch. Students must select at least three of the five required food components, including at least ½ cup of fruit and/or vegetable, to have a reimbursable lunch. See the Required Food Components table for a listing of required food components and their minimum quantities that must be offered. Meats/meat alternates and grains are measured in ounce equivalents (oz. eq is considered the amount of food product that is equal to 1 ounce).

Juice

Under the updated child and adult meal patterns, fruit juice or vegetable juice may only be used to meet the vegetable or fruit requirement at one meal or snack per day. This limitation is based on the Dietary Guidelines’ recommendation that at least half of the fruits consumed per day should come from whole fruits (fresh, canned, frozen, or dried). While 100 percent juice can be part of a healthy diet, it lacks the dietary fiber found in whole fruits and vegetables and when consumed in excess can contribute to extra calories.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Snack Program

The Afterschool Snack Program is a federally assisted snack program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. The Afterschool Snack Program is administered at the Federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service. At the State level, the program is usually administered by State education agencies, which operate the program through agreements with local school food authorities in 25,978 schools and institutions.

The Afterschool Snack Program provides a nutritious snack from two or more different food items to help students meet their nutritional needs between the lunch and evening meal. It also provides students with additional access to fruits, vegetables, milk and whole grains, many of which are locally grown, Florida products.

Afterschool snacks must contain at least two different components of the following four:

Fluid Milk
Meat or Meat Alternative
Vegetables or Fruits or Full Strength Vegetable or Fruit Juice
Whole Grain or Enriched Bread or Cereal

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Program

Farm to Fresh/DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program

The Food and Nutrition Department participates in the Department of Defense’s Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, commonly known as “DoD Fresh.” This program helps local farmers by expanding the market opportunities to local schools to offer a much wider variety of fresh produce than would otherwise be available. By purchasing locally grown products, we are able to support two of the major challenges facing our society: concerns about the diet and health of children, and the disappearance of the small farms.

The goal of TVCS Food and Nutrition Department is to improve children’s overall diet and create healthier eating habits to impact their present and future health. We aim to create a healthy environment by providing healthier food choices, expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables children experience; and increasing children’s fruit and vegetable consumption. Children depend on school lunches or breakfasts as their only healthy meals of the day. Increasing participation in the federal school lunch and breakfast program is seen by experts as essential for improving the nutrition of all children. Please help us in our goal by encouraging your child to eat colorful by choosing foods from each of the five food groups at every school meal.

Eat Colorful

Have Fun with Fruits and Vegetables

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Special Dietary Needs

Food and Nutrition Department staff shall make substitutions or modifications for students with disabilities and/or special dietary needs. Such substitutions or modifications shall be based on a written prescription from a licensed physician. Students with food allergies that may result in severe, life-threatening reactions shall be provided with food substitutions as prescribed by a licensed physician.

The Special Dietary Form must be completed and signed by a licensed physician before the school cafeteria can provide any modification or substitutions.

Below are the 3 categories for requiring special meals and the required signatures for each category.

Disabilities: Physician Signature Required Orthopedic, visual, Speech/Swallowing problems, Emotional illness, food anaphylaxis (severe food allergy), physical/mental impairment, cancer, heart disease, PKU, celiac disease.
Non-Disabled/Special Dietary Needs: Medical Authority Signature Required Food intolerances, non-anaphylaxis food allergy, diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol.
Religious/Ethnic Dietary Needs: Parent/Guardian Signature Required Religious beliefs, vegetarians, vegans.

For further information, including definitions of disabilities, other special dietary needs, and school responsibilities, please contact your child’s school nurse.

Special Dietary Form

Nutritional Information

Food & Nutrition Wellness Initiatives

As a result of the increased concern about childhood obesity, Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) made a commitment to closely monitor food and beverages served in our county’s school cafeterias. We continue to make appropriate changes to improve the nutritional profile of our menus and à la carte snack programs.

All Menus Are Centralized and Planned

USDA nutrient requirements were strictly adhered to
Implemented offer vs. serve and choices of at least two entrees at elementary schools and at least six choices at all other schools.
Introduced healthy vending machines in the High School, offering nutritious choices.
Provided a school-wide program offering a choice of fresh fruit at both school breakfasts and lunches.
Developed a customized webpage with current information about our department, including menus, meal payment options, and healthy tips.
The Wellness Policy was passed by the school board and implemented in all schools.
All à la carte snack items sold are nutritionally analyzed to meet the guidelines of Wellness Policy. Decisions on snack items are made at the district level by our Executive Chef.
Implemented more whole-grain entrée items such as rolls, toast, pizza and corn dogs.
Introduced new healthy menu choices such a salads, wraps, sandwiches and yogurt parfaits

If you have a nutritional questions or concerns, please feel free to e-mail Jason.Poplaski@tvcs.org or access the links at the end of this section.

Nutrition Standards for All Snacks Served (Food Items Sold Individually):

Will have no more than 35% of its calories from fat
Will have no more than 10% of its calories from saturated fat
Will have no more than 40% of its weight from added sugars

Allowed Beverages: water (plain and flavored); 100% fruit and vegetable juices and fruit-based drinks that contain at least 50% fruit juice; sport drinks containing 12 fluid ounces or less; unflavored and flavored low-fat and fat-free milk products.

Not Allowed: fruit-based drinks containing less than 50% real fruit juice and beverages containing caffeine.

Nutrition Information: below is the link to all of the nutritional information for all items served in our school meal program. Information includes portion size, total calories, total fat, total saturated fat, carbohydrates and sodium. If you would like any additional information about products served, please contact our Food & Nutrition Services Director Jason.Poplaski@tvcs.org

TVCS Food and Nutrition Services invites you to use these links below to help you better understand the importance of winning the race on nutrition:

USDA National School Lunch Program

USDA Breakfast Program

Dietary Guidelines

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

School Menus & Prices

School meals are a great value and a huge convenience for busy families. This is a great time for your children to expand their palate for new textures, flavors, smells and tastes. All students automatically, upon enrollment, have an active lunch account in the cafeteria. Through this account, your child can access the funds you’ve deposited to purchase meals and a la carte items during breakfast or lunch.

We have some exciting news to share with you!

For the 2024-25 school year, The Villages Charter School (VCS) is able to offer a breakfast and a lunch to every student… at no cost to you.

VCS will be implementing an option within the National School Lunch & Breakfast Programs known as the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), funded by federal tax dollars.

Schools that participate in CEP can provide healthy, reimbursable breakfasts and lunches to all students who choose to take the required meal components. This eliminates the collection of household applications.

Your child will still be able to purchase à la carte items (additional entrée, snacks, drinks, etc.) that are not included in the basic breakfast or lunch. Through EZ School Pay you will be able to monitor your student’s account as well as add funds so your child can purchase additional items.

If you have any questions about CEP, please contact our Food & Nutrition Services Accounts Administrator at joseph.hornstein@tvcs.org or call 352-259-0044, Ext. 12141.

Menus

Grades K-3

Grades 4-8

Grades 9-12

Autism Center

Teachers

Prices

Items	Primary Center (K-1)	Intermediate Center (2-3)	4th & 5th Grade Building	Middle School (6-8)	High School (9-12)
Breakfast
Regular Meal	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
2nd Meal	$2.25	$2.25	$2.25	$2.25	$2.50
Adult Meal	$2.50	$2.50	$2.50	$2.50	$2.50
Sm Side	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25
Entrée	$1.50	$1.50	$1.50	$1.50	$1.50
Lunch
Regular Meal	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00
2nd Meal	$3.25	$3.25	$3.25	$3.25	$3.50
Adult Meal	$4.75	$4.75	$4.75	$4.75	$4.75
Sm Side	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25
Á La Carte	$3.00	$3.00	$3.00	$3.00	$3.25
Á La Carte
Fruit	$0.50	$0.50	$0.50	$0.50	$0.50
Veggie	$0.50	$0.50	$0.50	$0.50	$0.50
Milk	$0.60	$0.60	$0.60	$0.60	$0.60
Sm. Juice	$0.60	$0.60	$0.60	$0.60	$0.60
16.9 oz Water	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25
Bread/Garlic	$0.50	$0.50	$0.50	$0.50	$0.50
Snack Rack	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25
Chips	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25	$1.25	$1.50
Switch	n/a	n/a	$1.50	$1.50	$1.50
Gatorade	n/a	n/a	n/a	$1.50	$1.75
Ice	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	$2.00
Sm. Condiment	$0.15	$0.15	$0.15	$0.15	$0.15
Lg. Condiment	$0.60	$0.60	$0.60	$0.60	$0.60

The Villages Charter School recognizes that unpaid balances represent a difficult and complex issue for the families we serve and our food service department. To prevent children from accruing unpaid balances, we must balance our desire to provide for hungry children lacking the means to pay for extra meals and ala carte items with the demands of maintaining the financial viability of our school food service operation. Students are allowed a credit limit to charge extra meals & a la carte items.

Although under CEP, reimbursable breakfast and lunch meals have no charge, our additional meals and ala carte items do incur a charge. Every student has a credit limit of $15.00. Once that credit limit is reached, students must pay for any extras with cash until the negative balance is lowered. Parents and/or guardians are responsible for all charges and balances must be paid to reenroll for the following school year.

You can place restrictions and spending limits on your child’s purchases from the EZSchoolPay website or on the App. Please see instructions below.

Spending Limits

EZSchoolPay offers parents the ability to apply spending limits (restrictions) on their child’s meal account. See the EZSchoolPay section below for more information.

EZSchoolPay & Spending Limits

EZSchoolPay offers parents the ability to apply spending limits (restrictions) on their child’s meal account. The spending limits can be applied to each day, individual meal sessions (Breakfast or Lunch), or for à la carte purchases, if desired.

To request a spending limit for your child’s meal account:

Log into your EZSchoolPay account
Click the “My Students” link on the left side of the page
Click the pencil next to your child to make your spending limit selections

EZSchoolPay is provided in cooperation with thousands of schools nationwide. Use the app to sign up for free or login with your existing account. You may link multiple students, view lunchroom purchase history and current meal account balances, set a low balance email payment reminder, add funds to your students’ meal accounts, and more.

EZSchoolPay FAQs

How to Register for EZSchoolPay

Cómo Registrarse en EZSchoolPay

Download the EZSchoolPay App

Prepay Via Credit Card

Use your Buffalo Charity Debit Card*, Visa, MasterCard, or Discover (credit or debit) to prepay on your child’s account. A small convenience fee applies for all online payments and purchases via the app to offset the costs of accepting payments online. Payments made online or with the mobile app are available for your student to use in just minutes! If a fee applies, it will be shown before checkout.

Support your Buffalo by using your Buffalo Charity Debit Card (MasterCard) and $.10 is donated to the Buffalo Scholarship Foundation, at no cost to you. The mission of the Buffalo Scholarship Foundation (BSF) is to assist hard-working students as they pursue their post-secondary education dreams. Graduates of The Villages High School (VHS) are eligible to apply for the various scholarships and endowments supported by BSF.

*OPEN or CHANGE your checking account to a Buffalo Charity Checking Account and help support the Buffalo Scholarship Foundation!

Additional Information

Policies

Wellness Policy

Non-Discrimination Statement

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.

Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained here, from any USDA office, by calling 866-632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or

Fax: 833-256-1665 or 202-690-7442

program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form

‭ Declaración de no discriminación

Deklarasyon Non-Diskriminasyon

FAQs

What will my child’s meals consist of in the CEP standard meal?

Three components are required from the food groups (i.e. protein, grain, etc.) one of which needs to be a ½ cup serving of fruit or vegetable. However, you can pick up to five groups.

What if my child is still hungry after they have eaten the free meal provided?

We offer many different selections for PURCHASE from our à la carte menu which you can view on our school’s website at TVCS.org

Is my child only allowed to get the approved CEP meal?

No, they have the option to PURCHASE any of our à la carte items and snacks in the cafeteria. They may also PURCHASE a second breakfast or lunch if they wish.

Where do I find more information about the CEP program?

Information is provided on our school website under the food service selection. For further questions email joseph.hornstein@tvcs.org

This year TVCS offers free lunch for the school year. Does that mean My children will always have free lunch at TVCS?

We offer many different selections for PURCHASE from our à la carte menu which you can view on our school’s website at TVCS.org

How do I find out about lunch charges on my child's account?

Please create an account on EZSchoolPay to monitor your child’s spending.

Who do I contact with questions or concerns about charges on my child’s account?

You may contact Joe Hornstien, TVCS Food Service Accounts Administrator, via email at joseph.hornstein@tvcs.org

Does the parent need to do anything to qualify?

No, income applications are not required while the school is participating in CEP.

When does my student need to arrive to get free breakfast?

The start time is 6:45 AM and the end times may vary from building to building. Please check with your building receptionist for more information.

Where is breakfast served?

Breakfast is served in the cafeteria of the building where your child/children are located.

Can the student get more than one breakfast?

Students are welcome to purchase any à la carte items including seconds at breakfast.

Are there any snacks included in the CEP program?

No. The CEP program only provides one free lunch and one free breakfast per school day per student.

More topics in

administration

Uniform Policy

Charter School Board

Forms & Documents

Exceptional Student Education

Multi-Tiered Support System

School Safety