The Fremont Union High School District has installed a computerized system in the five high school cafeteria to improve food service to students. Each student now has an “account. This is a Debit account (not a credit account) — money is deposited into the account and then the student can purchase food items using it. Each student has been assigned a PIN number (Personal Identification Number), which is the same as his/her Student ID number. At mealtime, the student keys in his/her number and the computer accesses his/her account. If there is money in the account, the purchases are deducted. If the student is eligible for a free meal, the computer acts as if the student has meal credits in the account. If there is NO money in the account, and the student is full or reduced priced, the computer will ask the student for the price of the purchase.
What are the benefits?
- You know where the money is going. Only food items can be purchased. Cash cannot be taken out of the account.
- You can pay with a weekly, monthly, or yearly check, you don’t have to hassle with spare change each day.
- Students enjoy having PIN Numbers.
- Free/Reduced Students cannot be distinguished from paid. Not even the Cashier can tell.
- Since less cash is handled, cashier lines will move faster.
What do you do?
It’s easy. Your student already has an account. The PIN number will be used to obtain meals and ala Carte items in the cafeteria. Students will key in their PIN Numbers and the cashier will tell them if they owe any money. Cashiers will let the students know when their balances are getting low. PAY by cash or check payable to your school cafeteria. Students can turn in their Deposits in the cafeteria before school starts each morning, preferably the first day of the week.
