Board hears complaints about school meal charging, convenience fees and donation portal

Parents and advisory chairs urged clearer rules and faster communication after the district reported rising lunch‑debt levels and confusion about how courtesy meals and transaction fees are handled.

Why it matters: student nutrition and meal debt affect daily learning for children and strain school accounts. Parents described inconsistent practices — some schools accepting cash without charging convenience fees, others directing families to MySchoolBucks and adding a convenience fee. The inconsistency has left families and principals uncertain and has prompted a patchwork of local relief efforts.

What staff said: Deputy and food‑services staff told…