Forget your lunch money?
By Barb Kromphardt
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bkromphardt@bcrnews.com
MANLIUS — Some Bureau Valley parents are concerned about what happens when their children forget their lunch money.
At Monday’s Bureau Valley School Board meeting, several board members asked Bureau Valley North Principal Gina Hall and Bureau Valley South Principal Denise Bolin about how such cases were handled, saying all of the board members had received calls from concerned parents.
Board member Rick Cernovich said the parents’ perception seems to be that students can buy lunch tickets only one day every week. In reality, students can buy lunch tickets in the cafeteria at Bureau Valley South on Mondays, and at Bureau Valley North on Mondays and Tuesdays. However, lunch tickets are always for sale in the office, and students can buy them before and after school or before lunch, if necessary, although that practice is discouraged.
Board members then asked what happens when a student doesn’t have a lunch ticket. Bolin explained those students go through the line last, waiting for everyone else who has a lunch ticket. Before the student who has forgotten their lunch money can get his/her lunch, a form is filled out letting the parents know their child has borrowed funds from the school for lunch that need to be repaid. Students may also end up seated at a different table from their classmates.
Both principals said the policy is helpful because of the state’s record-keeping requirements and has been in effect for many years. Over the years, there have only been a few parents who have every questioned the policy.
In response to another question, Bolin said most of the students need to borrow because they forget their money or tickets, not because of any financial problems within the family.
Students are not allowed to borrow from each other and can only borrow from the school. Bolin said handling the matter this way keeps the lunch lines moving quickly and acts as a deterrent or reminder for the students to remember to bring their money and purchase their tickets. She added if students were allowed to borrow with no deterrent, there would be a lot more students needing to borrow. The current system, she said, helps develop a sense of responsibility.
Board member Myron Rumbold agreed there should be some deterrent for students to not always borrow, but Cernovich didn’t seem convinced. He again questioned why the students needed to go last and then perhaps have to sit at a separate table.
Cernovich asked Bolin how many students actually had to borrow from the district to get their lunch? Bolin said she didn't know.
"Is it two or three or 33?" Cernovich asked.
"I don't know," Bolin responded.
“What’s the big deal?” Cernovich asked. “Let them go through (the lunch line).”
Bolin replied the policy served to deter students from continuing to forget.
Cernovich then told the principals it was “nice” they let students borrow lunch tickets from the school, but added that he didn’t know if it was necessary to let students borrow at all.
“But then they wouldn’t have a lunch,” Bolin replied.
The principals agreed to review their policies to make sure they were consistent throughout the district and report back to the board.
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