McAlester News-Capital, McAlester, OK

Local News

October 31, 2009

McAlester schools offering the option to pay online for school lunch program

By Mandy Carter

Paying bills on-line is a convenience of which many are taking full advantage. Consumers can pay their telephone, cable or satellite and utilities bills without ever leaving their home office or living room. Now McAlester parents can pay for school lunches while they’re at it. McAlester Public Schools presents MyNutrikids.com, an on-line payment service for student meals, according to Child Nutrition Director Dana Parker.

“The service just became available Thursday,” Parker said. “Parents can start using it any time, they just need their child’s student identification number before they get started.

“Most of the students have their identification numbers memorized, but if parents don’t have it, they can call the school or the Child Nutrition office,” she added.

The school’s technology director has already used the service to set up her own account, Parker said, and found it to be convenient and easy to use. Parker has also set up an account for herself in order to familiarize herself with the process so that she can be of assistance if necessary.

“Parents can get online and set up an account, but they do not have to pay that way if they don’t choose to,” Parker explained. “They can set it up to monitor their child’s transactions, and they have the option to receive a low-balance alert, as well, as long as they have email.”

Those using the on-line service to pay for school meals can do so by using a check, credit card, debit card or an existing PayPal account.

“There is a fee of $1.75 per transaction, not per student, charged by the service provider,” Parker said. “That means that, if you have three children, you can put them all on the same account and take care of all three balances and it’s one transaction. This is a fee that goes to pay for the service, the school does not make money from it.”

Parker added that the benefits of the service extend beyond mere convenience.

“It will make the lines go much faster, and it’s much more secure than sending a check or cash through the student to the school,” she said. “Many times checks go in to backpacks, and then they stay there because the child forgot to give it to the school. It’s worth it not to have to worry about lost checks.”

In addition, the system makes it much easier for parents to keep up with account balances.

Parker stressed that the service is just that, something that is offered, but not required. She also added that the Nutrikid system is in place in many school districts across the state, with excellent results.

To access the system, go to the district website, www.mcalester.k12.ok.us, and click on the Student/Parent Information link. Then click on the MyNutrikids.com link.

“From this site, parents will create their account, and add money to their child’s school meal account,” Parker continued. “All they need is their child’s name, student identification number, and the school zip code.”

For more information on the on-line payment option, call MPS Child Nutrition Programs at 423-7816.

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