Donations to Plum school lunch debt take small bites out of a big problem

An anonymous member of the Plum School District community recently gave the district $500 to cover student lunch debt at Holiday Park Intermediate School.

While generous and appreciated, the donation took only a small bite out of what is routinely a big problem.

The district is carrying more than $45,000 in delinquent lunch accounts for about 850 of its 3,570 students from the 2022-23 school year and this school year, said Jessica Griggle, Plum’s food service director.

Most of that debt, about $23,500, is owed by about 370 accounts at Plum High School. Debts at other schools are:

• Plum Middle: $9,568, 148 accounts

• Holiday Park Intermediate: $5,353, 139 accounts

• Pivik Elementary: $4,131, 97 accounts

• O’Block Elementary: $2,804, 97 accounts

Student lunch prices are $2.65 at the elementary schools and $2.90 at the middle and high schools.

While breakfast is free at all schools in Pennsylvania, only schools that meet eligibility requirements based on how many students qualify for free or reduced meals offer free lunches to all students. Even though that threshold was lowered, Plum does not qualify, Griggle said.

Students who can’t pay for lunch at Plum get the same meal as every other student, and not an alternate meal.

While the schools try to stop students with negative accounts from taking more than what a standard meal provides — such as two slices of pizza instead of one — when it happens, Griggle said they let the student keep the food and charge their account. Otherwise, the food would have to be thrown away because it can’t be served to another student.

That is one reason the debt is higher at the high school, she said.

Plum operates its own food service. Griggle said lunch debts have been an issue for all of her eight years as director.

The district attempts to collect on what it is owed. There are families that pay part or all of what they owe, and the district lets them make payments, Griggle said.

But every couple of years, the district writes a check to pay off the delinquent accounts — meaning the money comes from tax dollars, Griggle said.

“We try to collect as much as we can,” she said. “It’s the district’s responsibility to cover it. They’ll have to eventually cover all the negative debt.”

Before the $500 donation that the school board voted in January to accept, Griggle said she had received $1,835 in donations given to pay down delinquent lunch accounts since the 2022-23 school year.

“I have people that will call and want to pay off an entire school,” she said. But when they find out the totals are in the thousands, “they’ll give a couple hundred, and it’s really much appreciated.”

Students can receive free lunches if their families qualify based on family size and income levels. Those who qualify for reduced lunches now get them for free, Griggle said. Applications and more information is available on the district’s website, pbsd.net, under departments and food services.

While some families are certified by the state, others need to fill out an application each school year, she said.

Those interested in making a donation toward unpaid lunch accounts can send a check to the school district, Griggle said.

She can be reached at 412-798-6367 or by email at grigglej@pbsd.net.