SMASD working to collect school lunch debt

August 9, 2012

Photo by Colin Deppen - During Thursday's meeting of the SMASD Board of Supervisors, members discussed the possibility of restricting students with excessive and persistent school lunch debt from participating in field trips. The board is attempting to address the escalating problem of school lunch debt, which totaled $5,000 districtwide in the 2011-2012 school year.

ST. MARYS - Citing mounting cafeteria debt, the St. Marys Area School District Board of Directors held extensive discussions at Thursday's workshop meeting about the possibility of restricting student field trip participation for those students with excessive cafeteria debt.
Superintendent Ann Kearney said administrators unanimously agreed that parents need to be held accountable for student cafeteria debt, which totaled over $5,000 as of the end of the previous school year, an all-time high. Administrators also said the policy would act as an incentive for parents to pay outstanding balances, some which are in excess of $100, over the course of a school year.