|
Spotsylvania students, like these at Chancellor Elementary, could face tighter limits on charging school lunches.
- |
By PAMELA GOULD
Stafford and Spotsylvania county school divisions implemented new systems for student lunch payments this past school year with markedly different results.
Stafford wound up with less than $450 in unpaid bills. Spotsylvania's food service is due nearly $26,000, on top of about $2,600 owed for families that later were approved for free or reduced-price lunches.
Chapman Slye, Stafford's director of school nutrition, said Spotsylvania's problem isn't unusual.
"Lunch charging is as old an issue as there is," he said. "It can be very volatile."
Spotsylvania's School Board is considering revising its meals policy, adding a cutoff point from which students would get no more meals on credit.
On Monday, the board is scheduled for a preliminary vote on a plan that would cap the debt for elementary-age youngsters at $43 and middle schoolers at $27. High school students would be capped at one meal.
But at least three members of the School Board, two of whom serve on the school division's food service task force, aren't happy about the prospect of letting the youngest students go through a school day without proper meals.
"My fear is that lunch is going to be the only meal that child is going to get that day," said Lee Hill District Board member Amanda Blalock. "If a child is going to learn, he's got to eat."
Salem District Board member Donald Holmes said he would want something in place to make sure youngsters were fed in an emergency. As a stop-gap measure, he mentioned that parent-teacher organizations or staff could be asked to continue to step in and then be reimbursed by parents.
Battlefield District Board member Linda Wieland said she doesn't want children going without meals, but said parents need to accept that responsibility.
"It does disappoint me the number of parents that feel they are entitled to a free lunch," Wieland said.
Last year's policy was based on the idea that children don't learn well if they're hungry, she said. Still, steps were in place to notify parents when their children's accounts were in arrears.
"We have bent over backwards to help--to keep people abreast of what their debt might be," she said. "In reality, it's a small handful of people [who aren't paying]."
DEALING WITH DEBT
Stafford County credits two things with keeping its debt low--its online account monitoring system and school-level involvement.
Parents can view their children's accounts at my
As needed, parents can use credit cards to increase the balance of their children's accounts, Slye said.
Spotsylvania has also employed an online system for parents to monitor their children's accounts and make credit card payments. The county leaves voice mail reminders at homes about balances.
Meals at both school divisions cost about $2. Stafford's are prepared by the school division's food service staff; Spotsylvania employs an outside company.
But last summer, Spotsylvania's board approved a policy of denying no child a meal, except during the final week of school. Stafford officially cuts off students at one meal credit. The cost of that meal is to be repaid the next day.
However, Slye said the school division actually cuts off children when their debt hits the $6 mark--about three meals. Beyond that, a child will get a cheese sandwich for lunch.
Also, when the account hits $6, the school administration is notified and can make exceptions.
"Some principals say every kid will be fed every day. They will just take on the cost," Slye said.
But that's left to each school and the resources each has at its disposal.
Stafford's food service begins automated calling to parents when an account is $1 in debt. Eventually, letters follow.
"It's a thankless job," Slye said. "Some parents are very appreciative we feed their children. Some feel we should pay no matter what."
Spotsylvania officials have gotten a taste of that this year.
They are sympathetic to parents who have been hurt by the economy and have encouraged anyone in that situation to apply to receive free or reduced-price lunches.
As a result, 138 additional families qualified for free meals and six more for reduced prices since February, said James Meyer, Spotsylvania's assistant superintendent for administrative services.
But the bulk of the $28,000 debt Spotsylvania is carrying is owed by parents who don't fall in those categories.
As a result, the School Board is expected to ratchet up its collection efforts with the revised policy. It would continue with a series of phone calls, then letters and, if necessary, use of a third-party collection agency.
Livingston District board member Ray Lora said he supports the proposed changes.
"The tax dollars that we're getting should be devoted to education," he said. "We don't have the luxury of providing lunch for people who can afford to pay."
Pamela Gould: 540/735-1972
Email: pgould@freelancestar.com
The Spotsylvania County school system's food service remains with an unpaid balance on student meal accounts after the school year concluded. As of Tuesday, the following debts remained: $25,967.60 Parents owe for meals $28,538.03 Total deficit $2,570.43 School system must cover for students who had outstanding balances before qualifying for free or reduced-price lunches. The superintendent asked staff to donate funds to make up this deficit. Donations brought the total down from about $2,700. |
The Spotsylvania County School Board is considering changing its student meals policy to address the problem of unpaid accounts. The board is scheduled for a preliminary vote on the changes on Monday, including: Elimination of a provision stating that no student would be denied a meal despite a negative account balance except during the last week of school. Setting an elementary school cap of $43 debt, after which parents must provide lunch, set up a payment plan or pay in full. Parents will be called after the first debt is incurred and get increasingly formal notifications as the balance nears the cap. A middle school cap of $27 debt. A student may be asked to call a parent after any debt is incurred. After the fifth debt transaction, the parent gets an auto-dialer message. Additional calls and letters follow as debt increases. High school students get one free lunch. Debt must then be paid. After caps are reached at the elementary and middle school levels, principals will notify social services if parents don't provide children with lunches. A third-party collection agency can be used to recover unpaid debts. |
