No change, literally, in new cafeteria payment policy

A new cafeteria payment system will be easier for parents in the Ellwood City Area School District, but it also will mean an exact-change policy for students paying in the lunch line.

On Thursday, the school board adopted the PayForIt online payment system for cafeteria accounts beginning next school year. Students and parents will be able to make online payments to the cafeteria fund.

At the same time, the board established a changeless payment system in the cafeteria, which means cafeteria staff will no longer give change when Lincoln Junior-Senior High School students pay in the lunch or breakfast line.

Starting with the 2015-16 school year, if a Lincoln student overpays, the entire excess will be credited to his or her lunch account. Previously, for example, a student could pay into his or her account with a $20 bill, but ask that only $10 be placed in the account and the remainder be paid in change.

Board members expect the online payment and no-change change to streamline the process and get students through the lunch line more quickly.

Mock trial

Attorney Charles Garbett spoke during the public comment period at Thursday's meeting to urge the district to re-establish Business Week and the mock trial team at Lincoln High School.

Business Week is an event in which student teams establish small businesses and set up a mock marketing display for their products or services. Business Week and the mock trial team were previously student activities but were not done in the 2014-15 school year.

Garbett, who coaches New Brighton's mock trial team, said an area lawyer had volunteered to assist with the program.

"No matter what field you go into, public speaking is very important," Garbett said. "Whatever the cost to the district, it would be money well spent."

Call an ambulance

The board approved a contract with Medevac for stand-by ambulance service during athletic events. The district will pay $123 an event for junior high and junior varsity football in 2015-16 and $150 an event for varsity football.

In reply to a question from board member Robert Stevenson about the price difference, board President Mike Neupauer said the varsity games take about a half-hour longer to complete than the junior high games.