Claremont
The issue gained statewide attention after a city official suggested bringing in a collection agency, but the discussion will likely be behind closed doors after some board members said their questions were related to the food service provider, Abbey Group, and record keeping. Interim Superintendent Keith Pfeifer said he could not discuss the vendor publicly because of potential legal issues, nor could he talk in public about any families that owe money.
According to the SAU’s business office, Claremont is owed $32,000 for school breakfasts and lunches for the 2017-18 school year, the first year Abbey Group became the food service company for the Claremont and Unity school districts.
Of that amount, Pfeifer said, about $5,000 will be written off after the board agreed recently to forgive any debt of $20 or less.
Board members did not discuss hiring a collection agency or taking other tough measures at the meeting on Sunday, which was posted as a “retreat” to discuss budget issues. But members of the School Board made clear they are interested in learning more details and the reasons why so much money is recorded as unpaid.
“I have to find out what the real problem is here,” said Vice Chairwoman Rebecca Zullo.
Pfeifer said in some cases parents will give their child cash for lunch but it may be spent at a convenience store in the morning.
“Unfortunately, it does not make it to our coffers,” he said. “So we are not receiving those funds even though the parents are paying.”
None of the roughly 400 overdue accounts represent families on free and reduced lunch, and Pfeifer said they “coach, mentor, assist and support” families when it comes to filling out forms to apply for such benefits.
“There are a certain percentage of families that do not return their forms,” he said.
School Board member Jason Benware also said he thinks some families can afford to pay, but aren’t.
“I have a hard time believing everyone not paying doesn’t have the ability to pay.”
One recommendation on how to learn more about individual circumstances came from School Board Chairman Frank Sprague, who recalled how they handled a chronically late student when he was the principal at Stevens High School. Sprague said a phone call home revealed that the student’s mother was ill and he had to walk his younger sister to school before he also walked to school. The problem was corrected when a bus stop was added.
“I think there is a lot that can be learned in a one-on-one conversation,” Sprague said.
He suggested paying someone a stipend to make phone calls one day a week to families to learn more about the individual circumstances.
Sprague also said students who owe money should only be allowed to have lunch, as the law requires, but not to buy a la carte items including ice cream or Powerade drinks.
The other issue that was discussed was offers from the community to pay off the debt, including the creation of a GoFundMe account.
Assistant Superintendent Cory LeClair said one individual, who asked to remain anonymous, offered to pay the entire amount owed, and Pfeifer, who praised the community for its thoughtfulness, said a bank in the Upper Valley also said it would help reduce the debt.
Board members expressed gratitude for the offers but said wiping out the debt will not make the problem go away.
“Unless there are consequences (for not paying), it will keep re-occurring,” board member Mike Petrin said.
Unity, which also uses the Abbey Group, has 35 overdue accounts for a total debt of $931.60.
The SAU board meets on Thursday.
