Schools weigh options on $20K in unpaid lunch debts

“Shelton Public Schools will always act in the best interest of the child ... no student will go hungry ... we will help any child in need. These deficits are for those families that do not qualify for free or reduced lunches. We just cannot continue to incur these deficits.” School Superintendent Ken Saranich

SHELTON — The city’s school board is examining options for collecting unpaid lunch fees from families the district considers capable of covering the daily costs.

In all, Superintendent Ken Saranich told the Board of Education that the district is facing a $20,000 deficit in the lunch account from families that have the means to cover the costs. These families are not part of the free or reduced lunch program, according to Saranich.

“Shelton Public Schools will always act in the best interest of the child ... no student will go hungry ... we will help any child in need,” Saranich said. “These deficits are for those families that do not qualify for free or reduced lunches. We just cannot continue to incur these deficits.”

The district covered a $13,000 deficit in the account for the 2022-23 fiscal year budget, Saranich said.

Options for collecting the unpaid debt include retaining a collections agency, which would take 30 percent of the collected funds, and hiring a parttime person that could be trained to make collections.

To offset the hiring of this part-time person for collections, Saranich said the position could also be trained to handle centralized bulk purchasing, which can be done through a supplier like Amazon. This alone would save $24,000 as the district now outsources that function to an outside agency.

Saranich said using this purchasing agent to make bulk purchases would also see cost savings for the district. One example, he says, shows that purchasing paper in bulk through Amazon as opposed to the district’s present vendor would save more than $20,000 alone.

“We have creatively created this part-time position,” Saranich said.

Saranich also recommended that the board suspend any child whose family owes more than $100 from extracurricular activities, such as field trips or dances, that require a cost until the deficit is paid off in full.

Saranich said at present there are 580 names of those who have unpaid balances on lunch accounts, with 64 having balances of more than $100.

Costs for breakfast and lunch are $2 and $3.25, respectively at the elementary schools; $2.50 and $3.95 at Shelton Intermediate School; and $2.75 and $4.25 at the high school.

Those with unpaid balances of more than $10 receive an email from Infinite Campus on Fridays about the amount owed. If the balance is becoming excessive, Saranich said administration and support staff contact the family to see if they require any assistance and inform them about the free and reduced lunch plan.

At Shelton High, those students with balances on their account — covering anything from books to lunch — are not able to attend events like the prom, that require a cost. Saranich said students with outstanding balances are also not able to obtain their high school transcripts.

Board members wanted more specifics on what was expected to be saved overall and if the hiring of this part-time person would be more cost effective than using the collection agency.

Board member Jim Feehan said combining the collections and purchasing roles would be problematic since each warrants full-time attention.

Feehan also stated he would vote against using collections against families that owe for school lunches.

“I think this is wrong and cruel,” said Feehan, adding that he would not want to punish children whose families have not paid, especially in what he termed tough economic times.

The board returned the proposal to the finance subcommittee for further discussion.

Saranich urged timely action as the deficit continues to grow each day as lunch fees are not paid.