Barnes County North board debates booster-club food purchases and reviews food-service budget

The Barnes County North School Board on Jan. 15 debated how booster-club meal purchases should be recorded and examined the district’s food-service spending through December.

Board members raised questions after boosters arranged to have meals purchased via the district’s food-service vendor and then reimbursed by the booster club. One board member said the arrangement risks recording expenses in the district’s food-service accounts even when boosters reimburse the district, and that could surface on audits. A second board member said the purchase was “to be purchased off the truck” and expected to be fully reimbursed by boosters.

On the budget, a presenter reported that food supplies were at 45.82% of the supplies budget as of Dec. 31 and overall food-service spending at 47.74% of budgeted amounts. The board noted an overstated equipment line due to a damaged refrigerator that the vendor is expected to collect; a board member estimated roughly $1,300 would be returned to the account when the unit is retrieved.

Members discussed timelines and projection concerns if the food-service account were to run low in coming months. One board member summarized the practical tradeoff: ordering bulk meals for away events reduces staff time and ensures students have food on long trips, but the accounting treatment needs clarity so the expense does not indirectly affect district food-service reporting.

The board approved the consent agenda, which included bills and financial reports, before moving to other items. The consent motion passed on roll call.