District News

Cafeteria to test "Point of Sale" software

Imagine not having to find cash each day for your child's lunch. Imagine being able to pay for school lunches online. Imagine no more lost lunch money.

Your imagination will soon become a reality as the Fonda-Fultonville cafeteria introduces its new point of sale software. Food Service Director Judy Murray and her staff will begin testing the software beginning late in May. Mrs. Murray plans to fully implement the system beginning in September 2008.

How it works

After passing through the lunch line, a student will enter a pre-assigned four-digit PIN number on a keypad by the cafeteria cash register. A picture of that student will pop up on the cafeteria worker's computer screen to verify the student's identification. The value of the student's purchase is then deducted from the student's account.

"The goal is to shorten the time students spend in line and to give them more time to eat," said Mrs. Murray.

Additional benefits

The new system reduces the need for cash transactions in the lunch line. Parents will be able to send money for a week's meals or more with their child to place on account. Parents will eventually have access to the account and be able to add money to the account by credit card over the Internet. The secure transaction can quickly remedy a case of forgotten lunch money.

"This will be great for me," commented one parent. "Every day I hand my three kids two dollars each. I never seem to get the 70 cents change back. That adds up to over two dollars each day, 10 dollars each week. That comes to $400 dollars over a year! Now I will be able to put money on the account and know that it is being spent on school meals."

In addition to offering speed and convenience for students and parents, the system will simplify food service recordkeeping.

Greater privacy for free and reduced price meals recipients

This system protects the privacy of students who participate in the federal government's free and reduced meal program.

"Despite all of our attempts to promote the free and reduced program, many families refuse to participate fearing that their children might be singled out or made fun of," said Superintendent James Hoffman. "All children will have the opportunity to pay for their lunches the same way; they can simply enter their PIN numbers. No one will know whether the meal was free or at full price.

"The federal government helps underwrite the cost of school meals based on the number of students who participate under the free and reduced program. The level of participation falls off as students move from elementary to middle to high school. Our goal is be be certain that every child has access to nutritious meals in school."

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