4:045-AP2 Recovery of Delinquent Debt
Recovery of delinquent school fees and should be used in connection with and serve as additional guidance to Board policy 4:045 Insufficient Fund Checks and Debt Recovery and 4:140 Waiver of Student Fees.
Definitions
An overdue account with a negative balance that exceeds -$15 shall be considered overdue after thirty days.
A delinquent account with a negative balance that exceeds -$15 shall be considered delinquent after 90 days overdue. Accounts 120 days overdue are subject to fines.
A payment plan is a commitment to pay fees or any outstanding balance on a regular (monthly) basis in full prior to the end of the current school year.
Guidelines
The following guidelines shall be used for delinquent accounts:
- Students with overdue or delinquent accounts shall not be denied a meal or participation from student activities.
- Students should not be singled out or asked about overdue or delinquent accounts. In most cases, students do not have control over payment of fees.
- If the family is not eligible for a fee waiver, they are responsible for all required fees.
- At the time of registration, parents/guardians should be advised of any prior outstanding balance and an attempt to collect the balance due made.
- An overdue or delinquent account may be placed on a payment plan at the parent/guardian’s request.
Payment Priority
The District recognizes the importance of preserving access to the core instructional program while also maintaining responsible financial stewardship. Accordingly:
Essential Educational Purchases
Items that directly support the core instructional program may be processed at any time, regardless of any outstanding invoices on a student’s account.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Required course materials
- PE uniforms
- Instructionally-aligned field trips
These purchases shall not be withheld due to delinquent balances.
Non-Essential Educational Purchases and Participation
Full payment of all outstanding invoices is required before students are permitted to:
- Purchase student parking permits
- Participate in extra-curricular field trips
- Attend school-sponsored social events (e.g., dances, senior celebrations
Outstanding Lunch Account Balances
Until the account is considered delinquent, notices and conditions related to outstanding lunch balances will be coordinated by the school office:
- Students with a negative lunch account balance may purchase a meal, but may not purchase any extras (a la carte items, e.g. cookies, chips, drinks).
- When the lunch balance is more than -$20, a notice will be sent to the parent/ guardian by email or backpack reminder.
Delinquency Notifications and Fines
The Business Office shall coordinate all communications related to overdue accounts. Individual schools and staff shall not communicate with students or families regarding outstanding balances.
Notifications will follow this schedule:
- Every 30 days overdue: A notice will be sent via email to the parent/guardian until the balance is resolved or otherwise addressed.
- 90 days overdue: The account will be classified as delinquent. A delinquency fine equal to 10% of the outstanding balance will be assessed.
- 120 days overdue: If the balance exceeds $500 and no reasonable dispute has been submitted by the parent/guardian, the account may be referred to a collection agency at the discretion of the Superintendent or designee.
Delinquency fines may be waived at the discretion of the Superintendent or designee. Outstanding balances will carry forward to subsequent school years.
Date Reviewed: April 26, 2016
Date Amended: September 5, 2018
Cross Reference:
7:340-AP1 School Student Records
Legal References: