Students too deep in lunch debt in Ankeny may be denied meals if they're unable to pay up.

The Ankeny school board will vote on a new negative lunch balance policy on Sept. 18.

Students in kindergarten through seventh grade will receive lunch regardless of their balance. However, students in eighth grade and above will be denied food after two meals in the red, according to the policy.

The proposed change is in response to the negative lunch debt Ankeny has experienced. In the last four years, the debt grew from $5,000 to $43,000.

Students with a negative account will be allowed to pay for a meal with cash, but any change will go toward the debt and will not be returned to the student, according to the policy.

During a meeting Sept. 5, Ankeny school board member George Tracy said he was concerned about eighth- and ninth-grade students who could possibly go without meals.

"Once you run into ninth grade, you run into situations where kids say they’re done," Tracy said. "I’m not going to say lunch is the reason they’re going to drop out, but (eighth- and ninth-graders are) still an age where they’re young."

Jenifer Owenson, Ankeny schools chief human resources officer, said their rationale for the policy was that by the time students reach eighth grade, they should be responsible enough to have conversations with their parents about their balance.

"That parent or student should be able to take care of that situation," Owenson said.

Students on free or reduced lunch will receive meals no matter their balance.

The Ankeny school board will vote on the policy on Sept. 18 at 5 p.m. at 306 Southwest School St.