Online system lets parents monitor kids' school meals

Big Mother is watching.

And she's making sure you eat your vegetables.

In the latest step in the effort to make sure kids are eating healthy, a number of Long Island school districts are using or launching an online system that allows parents to not only prepay their children's meals, but also to monitor their food selections.

"The more information the parents have about what is happening in the schools, the better," said Richard Snyder, assistant superintendent for business of the Eastport-South Manor school district, one of a handful of Long Island districts with the system. "If you find out a kid had ice cream and chips and bagels, that is a teachable moment for a parent: That is not what you eat for lunch."

Nassau BOCES reported one district used the program last year and two more this year. Uniondale officials said they expect to roll out the online program next month, including the parental monitoring function. At least three Suffolk districts have signed on to the system allowing parents to prepay and monitor.

In a test of the program last spring, Uniondale parent Albert Beauge, who pushed for its implementation in the district, knew his son Justin, 16, a high school junior, ate pizza one day and a deli sandwich the next. His son swiped a prepaid card to purchase the meals.

"We have had a very broad strategy to improve the nutrition of the food we are serving," said Uniondale assistant superintendent of business affairs Ken Rodgers. "This is a part of that strategy, to have the parents to be able to keep track of what children are eating."

Justin Beauge said he doesn't mind. "Sometimes when I am really busy, I don't eat and my parents don't know," he said. "It's easier. I don't have to bring cash to school."

A student's purchase history shows the standard school lunch described as "lunch meal." Federal regulations require that school meals meet certain nutritional guidelines. In some districts such as in Eastport-South Manor, a la carte items also are listed.

"You can see if the kids are buying bagels and ice cream and Gatorade or anything," Snyder said.

Parents can block children from buying items such as ice cream.

The William Floyd school district implemented the system a year ago, said Anne Marie Caliendo, assistant superintendent for business. Some parents like that they no longer have to send children to school with cash, she said.

"As a parent . . . you can put in $50 at the beginning of the school year and you don't have to worry," she said.

Student purchases are recorded when a student gives an identification number.

"The kids have a PIN number and they enter it, and the little kids say their name," said Regan Kiembock, school lunch manager for the Southampton district. "If they have allergies, it will pop up."

Kiembock also said the system guarantees children who are getting free or reduced meals are not identified since everyone uses a card or number when ordering food. "It is very confidential," she said.

Eastport-South Manor parent Annette Hill said she likes the convenience of paying online for her daughter's lunch at the high school and used the function when her elder daughter, now graduated, was in school.

"I want to make sure that they are eating, that they are not skipping lunch," she said. "I do ask what they had to eat, but I can also can go on and check."