THE PERPETUAL PROBLEM OF UNPAID MEAL CHARGES

1. THE PERPETUAL PROBLEM OF UNPAID MEAL CHARGES Presented by Margie Bowers Child Nutrition Director Rogers Public Schools Rogers, Arkansas

2. THE PERFECT PLATE IN A PERFECT WORLD, WITH ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, THE CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WOULD BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE THE EQUITABLE “PERFECT PLATE” THAT WOULD SUPPORT STUDENT HEALTH AND LEARNING .

3. BUT IN THE REAL WORLD….. THE “PERFECT PLATE” BECOMES VICTIM TO BUDGETARY CONSTRAINTS THAT EFFECT THE BALANCE BETWEEN AVAILABLE FUNDS AND THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE HEALTHY MEALS TO STUDENTS. UNPAID MEAL CHARGES HAVE BECOME PART OF THE PROBLEM.

4. Produce a negative impact on the budget • Create additional labor and materials expense • Are embarrassing for the students, especially middle school and up • Create a negative opinion of the cafeteria staff with parents and students. • Ultimately effects the ability to provide a healthy meal to the students. • Discourage students from even coming to lunch because they know the account is negative UNPAID MEAL CHARGES

5. THE VERY FOCUS OF WHY WE EXIST IS TO FEED HUNGRY CHILDREN A HEALTHY MEAL. DEALING WITH UNPAID MEAL CHARGES PLACES OUR PROGRAMS IN A DIFFICULT POSITION. NONE OF US WANT TO DENY A CHILD A MEAL !

6. TAKING ACTION! Barriers to Success • Create a policy • Send letters home notifying parents • Provide meal applications • Phone calling • Automated phone calling • Ask for help from the Principals or counselors • The Policy has no effect on collections • Letters often do not reach the parent or they are ignored when mailed. • Many families unable to pay for meals have already been denied benefits • Managers have little time to phone parents which can take hours each day. • Automated calls are ignored . Administration prefers that the automated system be used only for educational related messages. • Principals and counselors want to preserve parent contact for educational purposes . They do not want to risk their relationship with parents by becoming a “bill collector.” SOLVING THE PROBLEM!

7. WE ARE SOMETIMES FACED WITH OVERCOMING A PARENT’S SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT. “I PAY FOR THE PROGRAM WITH MY TAXES. WHY SHOULD I PAY MORE WHEN OTHERS PAY NOTHING?”

8. CAUTION! HANDLE WITH CARE OR RISK BECOMING A FEATURE STORY ON THE NIGHTLY NEWS AVOIDING DAMAGE TO OUR IMAGE

9. IF PARENTS WON’T PAY, THEN WHAT? • Deny meals? Contrary to our purpose of feeding children. • Report parents to authorities? Child advocates are reluctant to use resources for this purpose. • Use a collection agency? Contrary to our purpose and mission and has not proven to be very effective. • Provide an alternative meal? Let’s talk about the true cost……… DEALING WITH THE DEFICIT

10. PEANUT BUTTER OR CHEESE SANDWICH AND MILK (Using Commodities) • 2 oz M/MA • 2 whole Grains • Milk Labor….NA Average Value of Peanut Butter or Cheese .22 Cost of Bread .11 Cost of Milk .29 sub total .62 Add… Loss of Commodities.23 Total Cost of the Meal .85 There IS a cost to your program. THE TRUE COST OF THE ALTERNATIVE MEAL

11. LOSS OF ADP • BREAKFAST……? • MEAL PATTERN…..? • SHOULD IT BE AVAILABLE TO ALL CHILDREN? • ARE WE DISCRIMINATING? • IF PARENTS STILL WILL NOT OR CANNOT PAY, CHILDREN STILL LOSE THE BENEFIT OF A HEALTHY MEAL. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

12. THE DEBATE....... POTENTIAL REVENUE (STILL POTENTIALLY COLLECTABLE, THEREFORE THE CN PROGRAM’S OBLIGATION) VS UNCOLLECTED REVENUE (A BAD DEBT , THEREFORE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DISTRICT) WE NEED CLARRIFICATION AND AN EQUITABLE POLICY FROM USDA SHOULDN’T SCHOOL DISTICTS REIMBURSE THE CN PROGRAM?

13. BUT…….. USDA SAYS THAT WE ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO FEED CHILDREN WHOSE PARENTS WILL NOT PAY.

14. REALLY?!