The Blue Valley School District switched to the website School Cash Online to handle all school activity-related transactions due to a district policy introduced in July prior to the 25-26 school year.
BVNW bookkeeper Melissa Gibson said the new site was introduced by the district to ensure accountability to paying sales tax; however, there are still classes using cash and check. Gibson said it will take about a year to get accustomed to using the new program, but they will ultimately be able to implement it for different types of transactions as well.
“Eventually, we’ll be able to use school cash with checks and cash and put it in there so that has a tally as well,” Gibson said. “You know, we’re taking baby steps.”
She said the school district had two trainers work with school bookkeepers over the summer to explain the new process. Gibson said learning everything was overwhelming, but now she is more comfortable with the adjustment.
“It’s going to be a great system. It’s just learning the system and then eventually I’ll know what all of this stuff is,” said Gibson.
Business teacher and tech education department chair Meghan Trader said the new switch might take a second to readjust.
“It was a lot to pivot while the school year had already started,” Trader said.
She said she believes that if this switch had been told to teachers sooner, it would have been more beneficial to the students and teachers.
Activities Director Kelsey Bakalar said School Cash Online was implemented to increase efficiency. She said sponsors must go through and get transactions approved by administrators by requesting a charge.
According to Bakalar she said School Cash Online has been very easy to use.
“From the parent perspective, I found it to be really convenient because I just get an email and I pay,” Bakalar said.
Senior Camryn Mielke said she enjoys certain aspects of the new system, but also prefers the previous way of payment.
“With clubs, it has made it easier because you can [pay] anytime,” Mielke said. “But, also, it is a little tricky to navigate… I feel like I’d rather just give [the money] directly to the person.”
Due to this new change, teachers have to adjust syllabuses to include new prices and change how to reach out to parents about this switch.
The treasury position in clubs like DECA and STUGO is now adjusting along with the shift to School Cash Online. Instead of counting money and doing hands-on tasks, it has become more of picking up a report.
“Normally, we would have a ton to do right now at the start of the year,” Trader said.
Instead of tracking money, clubs receive a report from Gibson and take it to the sponsor.
“We essentially didn’t have the same responsibilities that we have had in the past,” Trader said.
Trader said the students chosen for the treasury positions were chosen last April, before anyone knew about the incoming change. This also means these kids were unaware they were going to have different responsibilities.
“They still work closely with the bookkeeper, but now they’re doing it through her report,” Trader said.
This responsibility is now much less hands-on for students involved.
