PVSchools maintains meal access for students with unpaid balances

Students at Paradise Valley Unified School District will continue receiving regular school meals even when their accounts have insufficient funds under existing practices being incorporated into proposed governing board policy.

During an Oct. 22 policy review, Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Jill Barragan said the district allows students to accumulate unpaid meal charges rather than substituting lower-cost meals.

The practice is intended to prevent students from being singled out because of unpaid balances.

Barragan said district staff contact families with negative balances and work to determine whether they qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

The proposed policy would formalize existing practices concerning meal charges, parent notification, billing and delinquent accounts to align with updated state financial reporting requirements.

Board members reviewed the proposal as part of a first reading, with no final action taken.