Published in the September 28, 2018 edition
WAKEFIELD — In an effort to establish consistent meal account collection procedures throughout the district, the School Committee last night approved an updated policy on the collection of payment for school meals.
The policy notes that it is “well documented that students who are well fed are ready to learn and more likely to be productive community members. To this end, students will not be denied the available standard lunch regardless of money owed to the School Nutrition Program. While unpaid charges place a burden on the Wakefield Public Schools, it is more important to avoid placing the responsibility of cost recovery solely on the student.”
The policy goes on to outline the procedures taken when a student has a balance on their School Nutrition account.
Students with a balance will still be able to get the standard lunch, but no a la cart items will be charged to a student’s account that has a balance owed.
Collection of balances owed will follow the School Committee’s policy on Student Fees, Fines, and Charges. This policy will apply to account balances at any time or to any payments made by check that are returned to the district by the bank with notice of “insufficient funds.”
According to the policy, all accounts must be settled at the end of the school year. Letters will be sent home approximately four to five days before the last day of school to students whose accounts are low or with an unpaid balance.
Balances may be checked at any time by logging into to the parent’s online school lunch account or emailing the School Nutrition Director.
If a check is returned to the Treasurer’s Office for “NSF” (nonsufficient funds), a letter will be sent to inform the parent(s) from the School Nutrition Director. Payment for the NSF check must be in the form of cash, cashier’s check, or money order. Payment must be received within ten (10) days of the date of the letter. Any penalty fee will be made payable to the Town of Wakefield and sent to the School Nutrition Office. The penalty fee and the amount of the check will be deducted from the child/children’s lunch account immediately upon notice from the bank and the above mentioned rules will take effect. Second requests for payment will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of state law.
The policy outlines the options available if attempts to collect the balance due are not successful.
If the payment is not received, the Superintendent or his/her designee may take one or more of the following actions, unless or until prohibited by state law or regulation:
• Delay the issuance of report cards, transfer cards, and class assignments until obligations are met.
• Prohibit participation of the student or other students in the student’s household from participating in any future fee-based program until outstanding balances are resolved.
• Prohibit student participation in senior activities or graduation exercises.
• Referral to small claims court and/or District Attorney’s office.
The policy notes that on May 1 the School Nutrition program must begin to close the books for the school year. As a result, the point of sale system will be blocked from accepting deficit account balances. Parents/Guardians will be sent a written request for “Payment in Full.” (The deposit requests will be mailed home.) All charges not paid before the end of the school year will be carried forward into the next school year.
Seniors must pay all charges before receiving their cap and gown. All seniors will receive a notice in May of remaining money in their lunch account. They will receive a letter to elect to move money into sibling lunch account or to elect a refund. All refund requests will be sent to the School Nutrition Office processed for payment.
All school cafeterias possess computerized point of sale/cash register systems that maintain a record of all monies deposited and spent for each student and said record will be made available to the parent upon request.
The School Nutrition Office shall inform parents that meals can be paid for in advance and the balances maintained in their child’s account to minimize the possibility that the child may be without meal money on any given day. If a student is without meal money on a consistent basis, the School Nutrition Office will investigate the situation more closely, including contacting the parent/guardian to bring money to the school and/or encouraging the parent to apply for free or reduced price meals.
A parent may call the School Nutrition Director to place a block on their child’s account to prohibit the purchase of a la carte items or set dollar cap. The School Business Manager may instruct the School Nutrition director to place a block on a student’s account due to non-payment of district fees or other collection issues.
The policy also addresses how refunds are to be handled.
For any student who is withdrawn, a written or email request for a refund of any money remaining in their account must be submitted.
Students who are graduating at the end of the year will be given a refund. Funds can also be transferred to a sibling’s account with a written request.
