Guilford County Schools returns to former meal plan to curb student lunch debt

In January, Guilford County Schools (GCS) will return to the same meal plan used pre-COVID. 

During the pandemic, GCS had been providing meals at no cost to students thanks to federal waivers. Once those waivers expired at the end of June, students were charged for their meals without limit.

About 5,700 students have already accrued $111,627 in debt.

At a Board of Education meeting on Dec. 13, Superintendent Whitney Oakley explained how the process moving forward will help to limit potential debt a student might incur.  

“The plan allows students to charge the value of five breakfasts and five lunches, which currently totals $19.25, before receiving an alternate meal,” she said. “Cafeteria managers will make preparations to ensure staff know their students, and promptly and discreetly use this alternative meal process when necessary.”

The cheaper alternate meal will consist of the same fruit and/or vegetable choices from the day’s menu, milk or water, and a roll. The most expensive part of the regular meal is left out. 

Officials say balances are still owed to the School Nutrition Fund for unpaid charged meals unless a free and reduced lunch application for the student is approved. If those charges can’t be eliminated any other way, the local fund budget is used to cover the remaining balance. 

Executive Director of School Nutrition Travis Fisher says the district has been sending letters to families with low and negative balances and encouraging them to apply for free and reduced meals. 

“Over 2,600 phone calls have been made, and 138 home visits,” Fisher said. “The school nutrition department has processed free and reduced lunch applications for almost 16,000 students and received approvals for almost 83% of those.”

Board of Education member Deborah Napper says she will be donating to help cover the outstanding balances, and encouraged the community to do the same. 

“Feeding the kids while they're at school is not only incentive for them to be there, but instrumental to them to learn,” she said. “If you can't eat … and you're not feeling well, you're not going to take anything home with you but a growling, empty stomach.”

The district has collected about $6,750 in donations for the charged meal balances so far. 

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.