One-year lunch-payment contract keeps credit-card payments available, with fees

What happened

The School Committee approved a one-year Heartland contract after payment providers warned they could discontinue school-lunch credit-card payments if districts did not accept additional processing fees. Families using credit cards are charged 2%, while providers sought to charge districts the remaining 3%; families can also pay by cash or check.

Why it matters to families

The agreement preserves a convenient way for families to pay for school meals, but card users face a transaction fee and the district faces a new processing-cost demand while it works on a longer-term solution.

The evidence

The September 10, 2026 minutes say state legislation capped provider fees at 2%; Heartland and SchoolBucks were charging families 2% for credit-card payments and seeking the remaining 3% from districts. The minutes say providers threatened to discontinue card payment systems if districts did not agree, note the Heartland agreement is for one year, and record the Committee’s 5–0 approval of the Heartland contract with school-lunch processing fees. They also say families can pay by cash or check.

The source