Q. How much time does it take each day?
A. A school of 500 students can be set up in about four hours if your information is organized. Affixing bar code labels will take a little longer. The daily requirements include: collecting money (30 min.), input deposit to the computer (20 min.), lunch line (60 min.), and summary (30 min.).

Q. Do we have to purchase a card reader?
A. No. Some schools have used School Lunch Mac for years without the card reader. The card reader is simply a device to facilitate data entry.

Q. Are there tickets or forms to purchase?
A. None. School Lunch prints all forms for your record keeping. These reports or lists can be printed any time.

Q. How does a student pay for lunches?
A. The school can arrange that in any manner. We suggest students pay with a deposit slip. This is done in much the same way a person would deposit money to a bank account. This is a good learning experience and responsibility for all students.

Q. Where do we get the deposit slips?
A. The school will be given a suggested form that they may duplicate in the school or at the central office. We can supply deposit slips at a small cost, in any quantity.

Q. Where do we get the cards and bar codes?
A. School Lunch is programmed to print the bar code on standard 1" mailing label. The card can be made in the school, from almost any material. We suggest that if a non-plastic card is used that the card be laminated for protection. Cards can last a year or more.

Q. Do we have to use a card?
A. No. Some schools have School Lunch Mac print a class list with balances each day and have the teachers mark the students that are eating lunch. The student numbers are entered in to the computer in the office.

Q. What happens when a card is lost or stolen?
A. When the loss is reported to the office the student is given a new account, number, and card. All of the student information is transferred to the new account. All of the information in the old account is replaced with an "X." The next time the old account is used the computer signals that the account is closed and this card should be taken. It is unlikely that a second or third card will be stolen. We would suggest the school charge a dollar to issue a new student card, or issue a new account. Students need to respect and be responsible for their cards.

Q. How do parents like the program?
A. They love not having lost or stolen lunch tickets.

Q. How do students know when they are out of money?
A. School Lunch Mac will let students know when they are low on money or negative. A signal is given on the screen when dollar amounts fall below the set amount. At the end of the daily lunchroom report all accounts that have dropped below the desired level can be printed out.

Q. Can a student charge a lunch?
A. Yes. When the student pays money into the account School Lunch Mac will credit the account and bring it up-to-date.

Q. How does the program handle reduced price students?
A. The same as any other student. Students can deposit any amount with no questions. Only qualified personnel know who they are.

Q. How are the free students handled?
A. The same as other students with the exception they never have to go to the office to make a deposit. The office may ask for a list of free students at anytime.

Q. How does School Lunch Mac handle adults?
A. The very same as the regular students. six lunch prices can be set: free, reduced, pay 1, pay 2, pay 3, and adult.

Q. Is it difficult to change meal prices?
A. No. All prices can be changed in a few seconds with a few key strokes. This will be very important in not waiting for old tickets to be used up.

Q. Is it easy to notify parents when accounts become delinquent?
A. Yes. The office can compose a small general note to let the parents know what the student lunch balance is. This can be done for one student, one class, all delinquent accounts, or all accounts regardless of the balance.

Q. Can refunds be made?
A. We suggest the school develop a refund slip, much like the deposit slip. Print the refund slip on pink paper. Make the withdrawal with a negative deposit at the same time you make the regular deposit.