The Bristol Borough School Board voted to adopt a new policy regarding breakfast and lunch policies in the district last Thursday night.
The major change in policy is not in the policy itself, but the fact that the policy will affect fewer grades. The policy states that for each school year a total of the cost of three reimbursable meals, or $5, will be allowed for each student. After two charged meals, a written notice will be sent to parents and the student would then be denied further meals without payment. Then, at the end of the grading period, report cards would not be sent to parents without payment, according to Chris McHugh, the business manager of the district.
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This policy, which previously applied to students in grades four through 12, will now apply only to students in grades seven through 12, said McHugh in an explanation of the change.
McHugh explained that before any student is denied lunch, a list of students who have accrued charges would be reviewed to make sure that the student has reached the limit of charges they are allowed.
The other side of the change, dealing now with students in kindergarten through the sixth grade, notes that children in these grades will never be denied a reimbursable lunch, no matter the balance on the account. According to McHugh, this previously only applied to kindergarten through the third grade and disabled students, and now applies to students in kindergarten through sixth grade and disabled students.
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In terms of collection, McHugh explained that when students’ charges reach more than $25.00, and there was no notice recieved by the parents after ten days of a notice being sent, the collection responsibilities would be turned over to the magistrate. The parents then would be responsible for paying back the cafeteria, as well as any fees assigned by the magistrate, said McHugh.
Now, instead of being turned over to the magistrate, collection responsibility will be turned over to a collection agent, said McHugh.
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“In extreme circumstances, the school district may report the parents neglect to Bucks County Children and Youth Agency,” stated McHugh in an email.
