Kearney Public Schools - electronic point of sale system to manage lunch accounts

Dear Parent / Guardian:

 

The start of the 2013-2014 school year will begin soon. The Bearcat Diner staff is busy getting ready for the new school year. Elementary schools will continue to have an “A” and “B” choice at lunch. We will once again offer the option of “restaurant pizza” at the Middle Schools and High School due to the popularity of this option. The restaurant pizza meal will be priced at $3.00 to help offset the higher cost for this item. We will still offer two other options at the regular meal price on the days we serve restaurant pizza.

 

We will be using our electronic point of sale system to manage lunch accounts as we have in the past.  All students will be using their 5 digit student ID number and be expected to memorize it for use in the cafeterias. (We will have lists at the cashier area to help those that forget it). The lunch ID number is the same as their student ID # and will remain the same throughout the student’s time in the school system.

 

Now is a good time to start sending in payments to get your family lunch account ready to go. The Bearcat Diner will not extend credit to families for purchase of meals or a la carte food items. It is necessary to keep money in the family account so students can continue to purchase against it. Remember: Your Lunch account is a debit system.

 

It is your responsibility to manage your family lunch account balance. Please make checks payable to Bearcat Diner. We will notify families when their balances start to get low. If the family account balance falls to zero or is in the negative, the students will be asked to pay cash. The Bearcat Diner will not extend credit. Payment to your account can be dropped off at your school or mailed to 4611 Avenue N (Sunrise Middle School). We prefer that you do not mail cash. For your convenience a payment drop off box behind City Hall along with the other utility payment drop off boxes is available. Kearney Public Schools has a program called e~Funds For Schools that allows parents additional payment options. E-Funds is a way to make payment to your child’s school lunch account, via the internet, using a credit card or transferring money from your checking account. Call for information on how to use this feature.

 

Students from families whose income is below certain designated levels are eligible for free meals or meals at a reduced rate. To determine if your family qualifies, your family must complete an application. Enclosed please find a Free or Reduced Priced Meal Application. You only need to fill out one application per family, but be sure to include all family members on the one application. The application information is kept confidential. A new application MUST be completed every school year.

 

Bryant, Central, Emerson, Kenwood, Meadowlark, Northeast, Sunrise Middle School, Horizon Middle School, and the High School will have breakfast programs for the 2013-2014 school year.

 

The Bearcat Diner will provide a detailed lunch account summary only upon request.We do offer many options to allow families to monitor their family lunch account: 1) Call anytime between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for your account balance; phone numbers are 698-8159 (Janet), 698-8158 (Terrie). If no one answers at the time you will always be able to leave a voice message and someone will return your call as soon as possible. 2) If you have Internet access you may email Janet at janet.bugay@kearneypublic.org to inquire about your balance or check the website at www.wordwareinc.com (call to get your Family ID # and your Pin #). You may follow the “Monthly Payment Schedule” provided to all families at the beginning of each school year. 4) The Bearcat Diner utilizes an Automated Calling System that calls weekly notifying you if your account balance is getting low or is in the negative. 

 

If you have a change in address, phone number or family status, please notify our office so we can keep our records current. To notify our office please call 698-8158. Thank you for participating in the school food service program!