POS Information System

INTRODUCTION:

In order to continue to improve the services we provide for parents and students in the school district, we are introducing a computerized, Point-of-Sale (POS) system in your school cafeteria. The new POS system will help improve the efficiency of the serving lines, allowing students more time to enjoy their meal. This system will also provide a convenient and secure way for parents to pre-pay for their children’s meals. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Question: Could you please explain what the system is?

Answer: The system is a computerized Point-of-Sale system with a pre-payment option. An account is set up for each student who is given a personal identification number (PIN) to access this account. The PIN number is the same number as the student’s ID number. It is a debit or pre-paid system, not a credit system. Parents can pre-pay in any amount to their child’s account.  As the student purchases meals and/or snacks, their account is debited.

All transactions are recorded instantly on a computer in the cafeteria. Any cashier can look up the student’s balance at any time.

Although the use of pre-payments is highly recommended, students and teachers may still use cash to pay for their meals and/or snacks.

Question: What are the advantages of this system?

Answer: The major advantage for the parents is that they can deposit money in their child's account, in any amount, ahead of time and not have to be concerned with the hassle of coming up with the correct change each morning. They can also rest assured that the money they send to the cafeteria is used only for purchasing food.  A student does not have to have any cash with them to enjoy all the selections in the lunch program; they just need a balance in their debit account. The account is only debited when meals and/or snack food items are purchased.  Remaining balances can be refunded at the end of the year or carried forward for the following year.

For the students, the cafeteria line moves faster if all the meals are prepaid.  This gives the students more time to enjoy their meal.   

Question: Can you give us a better idea of exactly how this system works?

Answer:  Each child in the school will have a meal account that is accessed with a personal identification number (PIN). The student’s account is divided into two options: a Meal Account (money reserved for meals only) and a General Account (money that can be used for meals and/or snack items).  Parents can pre-pay in any amount to one or both of these accounts.  We can also limit the daily dollar value of snacks allowed, based on the daily dollar limit that you specify. 

After a student selects their food and comes to the cashier,they enter their secret PIN onto a keypad.  The student’s name and the total due for their purchase is displayed on the Point-of-Sale terminal in front of the cashier. The cashier finishes the transaction and the student is ready to take their lunch and sit down.

As the student purchases meals and/or snacks, their account is debited. If the student’s balance gets low, a message will alert the cashier and she will tell the student to tell their parents to replenish the account.

When the use of student photos is implemented, there is a built in security system in that the student’s photo also appears on the screen when they enter their PIN.  This way the cashier can verify the person using the account at that moment.

Also, if the PIN has already been used during that meal period for a meal, the cashier will be alerted that a meal has already been taken.

Question: How will this system work with students who are eligible for free or reduced price meals?

Answer: Since all students have to enter their PIN when receiving a meal, there is no way that a student can be identified as receiving a free or reduced price meal.

For more information please call our district at 973-412-2050. If I am not available, please leave a message stating when and where you can be reached and I will return your call.