Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Nutrition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board hears warning that proposed state rule could wipe out school meal debt and shift costs to divisions
Summary
Staff reported Jan. 30 that a proposed change that would wipe year-end student meal debt could raise the division's bad-debt expense from roughly $25,000 to nearly $100,000.
Roanoke County School Board staff reported Jan. 30 that an emerging state-level change affecting student meal accounts could materially increase the division's bad-debt expense.
Susan Peterson and nutrition director Ms. Strada (presentation slides and Q&A) described current practice: the division provides meals when a student lacks funds, allows meal charges to accumulate on the account for meals (not a la carte purchases), and uses text messages, emails and letters to notify families when balances run negative. Under current practice the division books unpaid meal balances as a bad-debt expense when a student leaves the division.
Peterson said staff are tracking a proposed state change (presented as a law change in the session) that would require wiping all meal debt at the end of the year. That change, Peterson said, could increase the division's bad-debt expense from the roughly $25,000 staff currently expects to an amount approaching $100,000, depending on participation and account balances.
Ms. Strada told the board she already uses vendor services for messaging and other collection efforts and that outreach and education are in place; board members asked staff to return with further details on collection results and whether policy or county support could mitigate the potential cost increase.
No formal board action was taken on Jan. 30; staff will monitor state activity and return with more detailed estimates if the proposed rule or statute advances.
