Bedford Schools Mull Policy On Student Debt, Ability To Eat

BEDFORD, NH — The School Board is considering a new policy that would guarantee students' ability to buy lunch despite bad debt on their accounts. Under the policy, parents are the ones responsible for keeping the school meals account in the green, or providing a meal from home, and no student will be refused a meal because their account is delinquent.

Superintendent Michael Fournier said some Bedford families face financial hardships yet they do not qualify for free or reduced lunch, adding that the proposed policy would comply with government regulations on the issue.

During Monday's meeting, that policy stirred a discussion among School Board members, who decided to wait for public feedback before approving the policy.

In cases of debt, the new policy outlines ways in which parents would be contacted, including through emails and phone calls. If all else fails, the school district would turn to small claims court to resolve the bad debt.

Fournier said no small claims court cases have been filed that he is aware. He said the district reaches out to the student's family to resolve debts and find out whether there's any hardship. often, another family steps in to pay off that student's debt.

Students can pay for their meals with cash, check or debit account. At no time will a student's lunch tray be thrown away due to delinquent or bad debt or be refused a meal due to their account being overdrawn, said Fournier.

The proposed policy had already been the practice at the Bedford School District, but no policy on the matter had previously existed, he said. With the School Board's approval, it would become the official policy, said Fournier.

This story will be updated.