Collection of Unpaid Meal Charges
School Lunch Debt
No student in the Bethlehem Area School District will be denied a reimbursable meal. Schools may only withhold meals from a student if they receive written direction from a Parent/Guardian.
If a student does not have money in their account, they will still be permitted to take a reimbursable meal by charging the meal on their account and creating a negative balance. Students may not charge food items beyond what constitutes a regular reimbursable meal.
Debt Collection
Reasonable efforts shall be made by the district to collect delinquent debt from Parents/Guardians. Efforts taken for the collection of delinquent debt shall not have a negative impact on the student involved, but shall focus on the Parents/Guardians responsible for providing funds for meal purchases.
All debt accrued to a student meal account shall be considered delinquent debt. At the end of each school year delinquent debt shall carry forward to the following year until the debt is paid, the student graduates, or the student withdraws from the District.