Officials in the Belle Vernon Area School District are confident a new computerized cafeteria point-of-sale system will make in-school meals more manageable for students and parents.
To use the system, students swipe cards at a terminal and cashiers log the purchased items on a touch screen monitor.
Superintendent Robert Nagy said the system would improve record keeping and inventory and should encourage more students to eat in the cafeterias and enroll in the free and reduced lunch program.
The state provides reimbursement to the district based on how many students use the free and reduced lunch program.
The district purchased the $80,000 system from School-Link Technologies, of Santa Monica, Calif.
Business manager Eileen Navish said she expects to cover the cost within two years, because the system is expected to increase revenue.
BVA students used the computer system for the final six weeks of last school year.
Greg Steeber, district technology coordinator, said the electronic format caught on quickly, mainly because it is easy to use.
"We could not believe how many parents initially said, 'Wow, this is such a great thing,' and gave their children $20 or $30," he said. "Kids don't have to worry that mom left early for work and she only left X number of dollars for lunch.
"We've seen an increase in participation in just meals and items sold alone. That was the first comment made by the high school cafeteria workers was that there seemed to be a lot more students attending breakfast."
Steeber said cafeteria employees had no problem making the transition.
"You don't need to know how to use a computer to run the system," he said.
Navish said that in a few months, the system will be tied in to a Web site where parents can make deposits and monitor accounts.
Spending limits can be set, and parents can find out what items their children purchase.
"Everything can be tracked," Navish said. "The record-keeping is going to be much easier. We are going to be able to get fantastic reports."
Steeber said students cannot share cards because they are identified on the computer terminal by electronic photo when they swipe identification badges.
Nagy said a big plus with the new system is it will eliminate using cash and lunch tickets and the stigma attached to students who are enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program.
"Our objective was to eliminate the overt identification," Nagy said. "We have children that are on free and reduced meals, and we used to give them different colored tickets. Our cashiers had to have their names on a checklist. That, at times for the older children, can be a little uncomfortable."
Steeber said district officials were told to expect a 10- to 15-percent increase in free and reduced meal participation because of the system.
Nagy said the cafeteria fund would become healthier thanks to the change.
"What we found is, it moves the lines quicker and the children have more time spent eating than standing in line," he said.
