New System Cuts Red Tape, White Tape and Streamlines School Cafeteria Operations

Enough receipt tape for a decent-sized parade in Manhattan …

Or …

A computerized network that not only keeps track of school food service operations electronically, but sends out a potential food allergy warning on a student-by-student basis. 

OK, the tape thing is a slight exaggeration, but the latter won out and is part of a a new computerized point-of-sale payment system for school meals purchased in the district’s cafeterias, Director of Business and Finance Michael Purcaro said.

Purcaro showed off the new system at Center Road School on Monday. The system went online at Center Road and Rockville High School on May 1, it makes its debuts at Vernon Center Middle School and Maple Street School on Thursday and then will eventually be put online at Skinner Road, Lake Street and Northeast schools, Purcaro said. 

The system was made possible through the town's upgraded IT system, a product of the Tech Council, a collaborative effort between Mayor George Apel, Superintendent of Schools Mary Conway and municipal and education officials. 

Here are some highlights of the system: 

• Every student has his or her own personal meal account based on his or her current student identification number. High school and middle school students can access their account on the PIN pads located at every register. If a student forgets an ID number, it can be accessed through theregister by a cashier. For the elementary schools, cashiers will identify students by their last name or students may enter their ID number using the PIN pad located at the register.

• Students can still pay with cash, but parents can deposit money into meal account. The system will allow charges to accounts with positive balances only. 

• Students who have qualified for free or reduced-price lunches or breakfasts have their information securely contained within the system and meals are  processed like any other student to avoid any potential embarrassment. 

• Food allergies registered with the school nurse are entered into the system and a warning message will flash on the cashier screen if an item being purchased is potentially harmful. 

All the food service workers and many education officials said at the end of the day, the time-consuming  method of logging all activity through a long stream of receipt tape will not be missed. Parents can obtain copies of their children's account history in the new system. 

It is part of an ongoing effort on the part of Purcaro to streamline the education operations in town.