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Cromwell reports about $25,500 in unpaid student meal debt; district secures state waiver to cover cost
Summary
District finance staff reported roughly $25,500 in unpaid lunch balances, said the district has a $5,000 donation to offset the amount and that a state waiver was granted allowing repayment from the food service program rather than the LEA budget.
Cromwell School District finance staff told the board that district-wide unpaid school meal balances total about $25,500 and that the district has obtained a state waiver permitting the food service program to absorb the debt rather than charging the local education agency operating budget.
At the board meeting staff said the district received a $5,000 donation earlier in the year and that the second installment of the state's special education excess cost reimbursement arrived that day. Staff described ongoing efforts to close the fiscal year, manage unanticipated special-education costs and complete year-end purchase orders while monitoring revenues and expenditures.
Why it matters: unpaid meal debt affects food-service operations and the district's year-end finances. The district said it will continue to provide meals to students regardless of family balance and that state-level policies prohibit withholding a meal or school documents for unpaid balances.
Details provided to the board: - The district reported unpaid meal debt of about $25,500 district-wide and said statewide unpaid meal balances are "nearing $1,000,000." - The district uses automated weekly email notifications to families when accounts reach negative $10 and conducts outreach when balances reach negative $100; building principals and staff follow up with families. - The district will apply a $5,000 private donation to offset balances and had requested and received a state waiver to permit using food service funds to cover the debt rather than LEA funds. - Staff reported that phone messages and texts coupled with email produced better response rates than email alone; ParentSquare will be used next year as a district communication platform.
A board member noted that if the unpaid debt is spread across about 50 families, the average amount owed is roughly $170 per family, underscoring the cumulative budget impact for the district.
The board directed continued outreach and communication to families, and staff said they will keep managing special-education costs and year-end purchasing as the fiscal year closes.
