Checks top cash in RCS cafeterias

For the first time at RCS,  more meals are being paid for in advance than in cash.

Food Services Director George Dardani said this week Monday that he has collected $54,000 so far this year in checks for prepaid meals. That is compared to $43,000 in cash, some of which was also for prepaid meals.

"We have seen a real changeover since we went to the point of service cards," he said, referring to the student ID/swipe cards all students must use when buying a meal.

The district adopted the student ID system last year requiring all students who go through a meal line to swipe their cards - regardless of whether meals are prepaid or not. his allows students who receive free or reduced price meals to do so anonymously and provides a safe way for parents to have their students buy meals without having to carry money.

Additionally, it provides parents with a means of finding out what their children are eating. Parents can simply email or write Dardani requesting the information at dardanig@rcscsd.org.

He also noted that the increase in checks paying for meals allows for more financial accountability and provides increased records of transactions, Dardani said.

"It's as win-win situation," he said.