- Food Services
- Making a Payment
Introducing SchoolCafé Payment System
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Olathe Public Schools has transitioned to SchoolCafé for managing student and staff meal accounts. Our previous system, MyPaymentsPlus, will no longer be used for meal payments. As of June 1, 2025, all remaining meal account balances from MyPaymentsPlus have been automatically transferred to School Café.
Visit the SchoolCafé website to create an account with a new username and password or download the mobile app. Make sure you have your student ID number ready when creating a new account.
Read instructions on how to set up a student SchoolCafé account (Spanish instructions PDF also available).
Watch a video on how to make a payment in SchoolCafé.
As a reminder, families must apply each year for free or reduced school meals, transportation, and student registration fees.
Benefits of School Café include:
- Check application status and view or print meal benefit notifications
- Access menus with full nutrient and allergen details
- View your child’s meal account balance at any time
- Manage multiple student accounts from one login
- Transfer funds between student accounts
- See detailed meal and à la carte purchase history
- Set limits on à la carte purchases
SchoolCafé Frequently Asked Questions
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Do I have to write a check for each student?
No. Parents may write one check and then transfer money between their students in SchoolCafé, giving parents complete control of their students' accounts.
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Will my balance transfer from MyPaymentsPlus to SchoolCafé?
Both positive and negative balances will transfer from MyPaymentsPlus on June 1. If you do not see your balance, please contact Food Services at 913-780-7005.
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Can a student create their own account to pay for their meals?
Yes, students will be able to create their own meal payment account through SchoolCafé.
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I’m a staff member; do I need to use SchoolCafé as well?
Yes, staff members will need to create a SchoolCafé account if they plan to purchase meals in their buildings and pay electronically. Instructions on how to create a staff account will be shared prior to the 2025-26 school year.
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Is there a convenience fee with SchoolCafé?
Yes, there is a convenience fee when paying with a credit card or setting up an automatic payment in SchoolCafé of 4.0%.
Parents can pay with cash or check without a fee. At elementary schools, please take the cash or check to the front office. In middle or high schools, take the cash or check to the cafeteria.
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Why is there a convenience fee for online payments?
We understand that no one likes extra fees, so we want to be transparent about why this charge exists and how it supports the services you receive through SchoolCafé.
The fee charged for the use of SchoolCafé is not a “surcharge” but a “convenience fee” for various features and functionality. This fee helps cover:
- Secure online payments — Reducing the need for students to carry cash.
- Low balance reminders and auto-pay options — Helping avoid lunch disruptions.
- Faster lunch lines — Getting students through quickly so they have more time to eat.
- Tracking meal purchases — Providing visibility into what your child is eating.
- Optional free and reduced-price meal applications — Making it easy to apply.
- Secure technology — Protecting your payment and student data.
The companies that provide this service also take on costs related to credit card processing fees, fraud prevention, and ensuring that all payments are securely transferred to the school district.
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What if I do not want to pay the convenience fee?
We understand. That’s why many districts continue to offer cash or check payments at no additional cost. If you prefer, you can send money with your student or drop off a payment at the school.
If writing a check, please make it payable to: Student(s)’ School Name- Food Services. Please include your driver's license number, phone number and your student’s name and ID number on the bottom of the check.
Our goal is to provide convenience and flexibility while ensuring students have access to meals without delays or issues.
Meal Prices for 2025-26
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- Elementary Breakfast: $1.60
- Middle/High Breakfast: $1.80
- Reduced Price Breakfast: $.30
- Elementary Lunch: $3.20
- Middle/High Lunch: $3.30
- Reduced-Price Lunch: $.40
- Extra Milk: $.60
Ways to Pay — Note Changes to Payment Processes
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Pay at School:
Bring cash or check to school. At the elementary level, please bring payment to the front office. At the secondary level, the student can bring payment to the cafeteria during their meal. There is no convenience fee for this method of payment. If writing a check, please make it payable to: Student(s)’ School Name- Food Services. Please include your driver's license number, phone number and your student’s name and ID number on the bottom of the check.
Pay Online:
Beginning in June 2025, Olathe Public Schools will use SchoolCafé for managing student and staff meal accounts. The previous meal payment system, MyPaymentsPlus, closed at the end of May 2025, but all remaining account balances are transferred automatically to the correct users in SchoolCafé.
When using School Café to pay online, there is a minimum deposit of $20 per account and a 4.0% payment convenience fee when using a credit card for either a one-time payment or an auto-payment.
To get started, you’ll need to create a new SchoolCafé account with a username and password. Be sure to have your student(s) ID number on hand. Create your account on the SchoolCafé website.
- Read instructions on how to set up a student SchoolCafé account. or read the Spanish instructions PDF
- Watch a video on how to make a payment in School Café
Refunds:
For a refund of a student's meal account, please email Marie Lenquist and include the student's name, who the check is payable to, and the address to which the refund is to be mailed. If you are on autopay, please turn it off before making a refund request.
Negative Balances:
Payments to students' meal accounts can be made by check or cash at the school, or by credit card online using SchoolCafé.
Households may set up an automated notification called a “low balance alert” using a School Café account when the amount falls below their predetermined amount.
Account balances (positive or negative) will follow the student each year within the district.
When an account is -$20.00, Food Services will reach out by email or letter alerting the household that without payment the account will be sent to the district's business office to be collected.
