Region 15 Installs New Point of Sale System for School Lunch Program

            MIDDLEBURY/SOUTHBURY – Region 15 has launched a new payment option, available to all students purchasing lunch in the District’s school cafeterias.  

            Rather than paying with cash for lunch, students can now pay through a computerized debit system.  An electronic account for each student has been created using each child’s name and ultimately their picture.  Students also have the option of securely entering their pin number on a key pad. 

            “This system will allow for the convenience of paying in advance for a student lunch meal,” explained Region 15 Director of Food Services, Peter Brooks.  “Best of all, it will speed up the lunch line and provide students with more time to eat.”

            To make a deposit into a student’s account, parents or guardians simply enclose the desired amount in an envelope labeled with the name of their child and the child’s teacher.  The student brings the payment to the cafeteria and the money is deposited into that student’s account.      Any amount of money can be deposited into the account.  Information regarding students who receive free or reduced price meals has been entered into the computer system.

            “It is important that parents and guardians keep track of the funds in their child’s account,” advised Mr. Brooks.   In the event that an “elementary school” student’s account is “overdrawn,” he or she will still receive their lunch and any outstanding balance will be deducted later from new deposits.  At Memorial and Rochambeau Middle Schools, if a student’s account is “overdrawn”, they will be allowed up to three lunches before additional funds must be deposited into their account. Pomperaug High School students, must pay with cash if their account becomes “overdrawn”, and will be unable to use their debit account until a deposit is made.

             Any money that remains in a student’s account at the end of the year can be carried over to the next school year.

            “In the near future, parents and guardians will be able to request printed activity reports that show what food items their child has purchased and the nutritional information for those items,” said Mr. Brooks.  “We also hope to make payment options available via the internet.”

            According to Mr. Brooks, all students continue to have the option of paying with cash.  At this time, the purchase of snacks, juice and water will still be on a cash basis for all “elementary school” students.  The deposits within each student’s lunch account can be used for the lunch program only and can not be applied to other expenses at school. 

            For further information, please contact Mr. Brooks at (203) 758-8259, Ext. 126 or via e-mail at pbrooks@region15.org.  You may also visit the Region 15 website at www.region15.org.