Newton community members challenged to contribute to lunch balance deficit

Rick Vernon, a longtime Cardinal, is challenging those in the community with the means to donate to make a contribution to the Newton school district’s lunch balance fund before the first day of classes this year, and in exchange he will provide a match donation to hopefully get the balance out of its deficit.

The vice-president of the Vernon Company is holding this challenge on his own accord and it is not being organized through the company. He was inspired to hold the challenge after reading that Newton Community School District has had to take parents to small claims court for overdue lunch balances and late fees.

Newton News previously reported the district had more than $23,000 in deficit lunch balances and equipment and textbook fees. At least 20 families were taken to small claims court in order for the schools to recoup their costs. Vernon did not see the school needing to resort to that, so he offered to do a challenge.

“I’m just trying to get people interested in paying that debt off for the school district,” Vernon said in a phone interview with Newton News. “…I will match all the donations that people make to cancelling out this debt for the Newton Community School District. It ends in about two weeks when school starts.”

Vernon feels compelled to give back to Newton, which is where he grew up and the Vernon Company was founded more than 100 years ago.

“The schools have done a lot for us,” Vernon said. “Even though this is a personal donation, I just thought it would be a good thing to do. Hopefully some of the other people with means can donate and realize this is a good cause. They probably weren’t even aware of this problem.”

Vernon wagered many towns in the state and even across the country have encountered a large lunch balance deficit. It would be nice to clear the balance at Newton schools, he added, and perhaps this type of challenge could catch on, or at the very least it could become a more common worthy cause to donate to.

Paying for student lunches can be challenging for some families, and the issue was further highlighted in states like Minnesota, which passed a Free School Meals for Kids Bill. The bill provides state reimbursement for a free breakfast and lunch to all students at all schools participating in national meal programs.

While Vernon is not certain the Iowa Legislature will move forward with a bill like the one passed in Minnesota, he said it might at least bring it to their attention.

“I do think kids cannot go without food in school,” he said.

Newton Community School District has two buildings that provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students: Emerson Hough Elementary School and WEST Academy. Students will deficit lunch balances do not go hungry at Newton schools either. They are provided a hot meal regardless of their balance.

How do you donate to the school district? Payments can be made online at www.newton.k12.ia.us/district/departments/food-service/food-service-donations or dropped off or mailed to NCSD 1302 First Ave. W., Newton, Iowa, 50208. Checks should include “food service donation” on the memo line.

Newton schools is accepting challenge donations Aug. 9-23.

Currently, the district has a total of $21,464.93 in negative food service accounts.