Saugus lunch bunch using swipe cards

SAUGUS – It?s been only four school days since students at the Veterans Elementary School received their new swipe cards to pay for lunch, but so far Food Service Director Paula Graham said the program is running smoothly.?It?s going really well,” said Graham. “We went live on Friday and (Tuesday) we did really well. The kids seem to really be enjoying it.”Students moved steadily through the lunch line on Wednesday and after they picked up their food they swiped their new cards that automatically deduct the money from an online account.Graham said she and the cafeteria staff were trained on the two new computer stations last week before the program was fully implemented, and said the new system will help keep things flowing in the lunchroom.?The lines will move a lot faster,” said Graham. “The parents can go into nutrikids.com and make a deposit so (the kids) don?t need money. It?s a great system.”Veterans principal Kelly Moss said the swipe cards streamlines the lunch process, while keeping the students? financial situations hidden.?Parents can just go on and put money in their account and not have to fumble with money everyday,” Moss said. “Every child has one so if they get free and reduced lunch, it doesn?t single them out.”Sam Rippin, director of finance and operations for Saugus schools, said the card “gets rid of the stigma” for those receiving free or reduced lunch.?Oaklandvale has the higher percentage, but Vets probably has the highest number of kids that are on free and reduced lunch,” Rippin said.Rippin said it can serve as a valuable tool for parents too, since they can keep track of what their children are eating on a daily basis.?It?s very interesting what kids will do,” he said, adding from personal experience, “I know with my older boy it caused some very interesting conversations like, ?Why do you see the need to buy two lunches in one day?? “According to Rippin, the swipe card system cost $8,000 to implement at the Veterans School and will cost around $1,000 per year to maintain. He said there is a $1.75 transaction fee for parents who add money using a credit card online, but they can avoid that by using a check at the school.The high school and the middle school already have swipe cards, and if the program goes well at the Veterans School, Rippin said he wants to add it district-wide.?It benefits kids in that they have more time to eat,” Rippin said. “It really was kids weren?t having enough time to eat because you?re spending so much time with cashiers making change and whatnot. Here you don?t have that burden. You just swipe through.”Matt Tempesta can be reached at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter @MattTempesta.