Arkansas School District Seeks to Collect $500,000 in Unpaid Lunch Debt

Siloam Springs School District may refer overdue balances over $100 to collections agency

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:56pm

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A bold, graphic illustration composed of a repeating pattern of stylized school lunch trays in vibrant neon colors, conceptually representing the financial challenges facing school meal programs.As school districts grapple with growing unpaid meal debts, the colorful pop art treatment captures the everyday struggle to feed students and keep nutrition programs financially viable.Siloam Springs Today

The Siloam Springs School District in Arkansas is asking parents to pay off nearly $500,000 in negative meal account balances across the district. As part of an 'Erase the Debt' campaign, the district may refer balances over $100 that remain unpaid after a May 1 deadline to a third-party collections agency.

Why it matters

The school district's child nutrition department is self-funded, so unpaid meal debts impact its ability to cover costs. The issue has grown significantly in recent years, with the district citing the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and families not re-applying for free and reduced meal programs.

The details

The Siloam Springs School District says about $111,000 of the $500,000 debt is owed by accounts for students no longer enrolled, while the remaining $343,340 is owed by accounts for currently enrolled students. This debt has accumulated since 2011. Families with outstanding balances will receive reminders to pay via email, text, and letter, but accounts over $100 that remain unpaid 90 days after the May 1 deadline may be referred to a collections agency.

  • The school board passed a resolution in March advising the administration to seek options for collecting on significant and outstanding debts.
  • The 'Erase the Debt' campaign will run over the next several weeks, with a May 1 deadline for parents to pay off balances.
  • Accounts over $100 that remain unpaid 90 days after the May 1 deadline may be referred to a collections agency.

The players

Siloam Springs School District

The school district in Siloam Springs, Arkansas that is seeking to collect nearly $500,000 in unpaid student meal balances.

Joanna Trimble

The child nutrition director at the Siloam Springs School District, who attributed the significant increase in negative balances to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shane Patrick

The superintendent of the Siloam Springs School District, who stated the negative food service balance has significantly risen in recent years, reaching over $231,000 so far this school year.

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What they’re saying

“The child nutrition department as a whole, we are self-op, so we have to create our own revenue. And part of that revenue is these payments from parents covering those student meal costs because we get our reimbursement from the state, but that doesn't necessarily cover all of our costs.”

— Joanna Trimble, Child Nutrition Director, Siloam Springs School District

“In 2022 to 2023, we had a negative food service balance of charges of $7,931 that was added that year. We've always had a little bit of negative balance that we try to collect. In 23-24 we added another $44,000 [and] in 24-25 we added another $42,000. And to this point in 25-26 we've added $231,000 just this year. It becomes unmanageable.”

— Shane Patrick, Superintendent, Siloam Springs School District

What’s next

If balances over $100 remain unpaid 90 days after the May 1 deadline, the Siloam Springs School District has warned parents that the accounts will be referred to a third-party debt collection agency.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing challenge school districts face in managing unpaid student meal debts, which can significantly impact their self-funded nutrition programs. It also raises questions about the role of collections agencies in addressing these debts and the potential impact on families already struggling with the costs of feeding their children.