Bigfork students owe $10,000 in overdraft lunch fees
Over the last two years Bigfork students have accrued $9,800 in overdraft lunch fees.
Much like the recession making money tight is a fact of life, kids being forgetful is another fact of life that could cost Bigfork School District more than anticipated.
“It’s been occurring in the last few years, and I think it has a lot to do with the economy,” said Judy Kinyon, supervisor of Bigfork School District’s food services. “As lunchroom staff we would like to feed them.”
This leaves the district with limited options. The district could pay the fees from the general fund or have children eat a federally reimbursable free lunch until their parents catch up on their lunch account overdrafts.
“It’s one of those situations where it is a huge financial concern for the district when we have to subsidize the food program and those funds get taken away from something else that benefits kids,” Superintendent Cynthia Clary said.
Clary also said research shows that students’ learning abilities are greatly impacted when hungry.
School lunches currently cost $2.25 for kindergarten through sixth grade, and $2.75 for seventh grade and older. Reduced lunch prices are about 40 cents for students from low-income families.
The alternative lunch that students without lunch money would be served consists of an Uncrustables peanut butter and jelly sandwich, fruit and milk. Board Chair Maureen Averill said it would be obvious that the child eating that meal was doing so because he or she owed money.
“I would rather not single kids out. It is tough being a middle-schooler and a teenager and we need to help them through it,” Averill said. “I would hate to see that happen to a kid.”
Kinyon asked the board of trustees to think about placing a limit of about 10 charges before serving the student an alternative lunch starting during the next school year.
“At this time we go ahead and charge their accounts,” Kinyon said.
The board of trustees tabled making a decision on Kinyon’s request so the high school and elementary school principals can contact families that owe over $100. The district is also sending out bill reminders via email.
Averill said once the principals have contacted the families with larger debts she would like to have the district work with the ones with financial difficulties to get them on the free-and-reduced lunch program and possibly sign off their debts.
“I think feeding our kids is paramount. That’s the whole purpose of the school lunch program,” Bigfork High School Principal Matt Porrovecchio said. “I’m of the same school as everyone else; we need to make sure our kids are fed and we’re doing our darndest to make sure the bills are paid.”
Porrovecchio also said he thinks the majority of the unpaid bills are just “minor oversight” and many debts are for about $10. He said most parents are quick to pay their bills once notified and some prefer to just pay them in full.
“There were times I had outstanding charges in the cafeteria because my kids wouldn’t tell me they owed,” Averill said. “I think there is an amount of that where the parents don’t know they have a bill.”
BIGFORK SCHOOL SAFETY UPDATE
Bigfork Elementary School has 32 exterior doors and the district is having each door wired to alert faculty members’ cell phones via text message when one is opened during times they should not be in an effort to improve school safety.
Clary said the district-wide lock down drill went well last week. With help from law enforcement officials and a representative from the fire department they were able to identify issues with classroom windows not being covered.