BARRE — The school administration is prepared to use a collection agency to recover $750 in overdue meals payments, the director of administrative services told the Quabbin Regional School Committee at Thursday's meeting.

Data show 24 students owe the lunch money, with some arrears totaling $75, said Cheryl Duval, the administrative services director. The downside, she said, is that a collection agency would charge about 30 percent of the amount owed.

In other business, the elevator at New Braintree Grade School is broken. Superintendent Maureen M. Marshall said she plans to meet with town officials to figure out how to fund the repairs. She said that although the building is operated by the five-town district, New Braintree is also legally liable for the problem.

In another matter, the committee questioned why there is a difference of about 500 people between the 2010 federal census and Barre town clerk's office data showing a lower number, about 4,800. Each town's population is used to decide the proportion of each community's school board representation.

In addition to Barre and New Braintree, Hardwick, Hubbardston and Oakham make up the Quabbin school district.