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District staff propose change to meal-charge policy to require repayment when eligibility changes midyear
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Teresa Main told the board the district will remove language that previously forgave meal debt when a household later qualified for free or reduced-price meals; the change would make families financially responsible for meals charged while in paid status.
Assistant Superintendent of Business and Operations Teresa Main told the board on July 10 that the district is proposing changes to procedures for Policy #5565 (Meal Charges for Students) to align practice with federal and state guidance and to address a growing unpaid meal balance.
Main said the district intends to remove the sentence: 'Households that are certified for free or reduced-priced school meals at a point later in the school year will not be required to repay school meal debt accrued earlier in that school year.' She said that statement is "not supported by federal or state legislation" and that moving forward, "any school meals charged during the school year to a student's account before their eligibility changes from a paid status to free or reduced will be the financial responsibility of the household." Main characterized the unpaid meal balance for 2023–24 as growing faster than expected and said the district needs a way to control it while ensuring students receive meals.
President Taylor noted a potential concern that some families avoid applying for free or reduced-price meals because they do not want to be identified; she flagged the stigma issue as an implementation risk. Director Lund asked whether the district's system could allow parents to request that a child not be allowed to charge meals, seeking a solution that would not burden food-service staff. Main emphasized the need to balance debt control with the goal that every child receives a meal. Superintendent Dr. Mary Templeton thanked the Food Service team and framed the matter as advocacy for student nutrition.
The item was presented for information and policy-procedure revision; no formal board vote was recorded on the policy language at the July 10 meeting. Staff indicated additional work and public notice will occur before final adoption.
