Bristol-Warren parents owe $2,340. East Greenwich parents owe $14,047. And in Barrington, parents of public school students owe about $24,000 for unpaid lunch debt.

Barrington Schools Superintendent Michael Messore said that the $24,000 tab is not typical, and is likely due in part to a technology glitch. 

Mr. Messore said officials recently discovered that overdue lunch debt notices were not being sent out to parents. He said the automatic reminders typically work well to reduce the lunch balances. 

"We should be seeing a decline in the next few weeks," he said, referring the outstanding lunch debt.

The district carries outstanding lunch balances over from one year to the next. 

Recently, the Warwick School Department gained national attention after deciding to offer a different lunch — "sun butter" and jelly sandwiches instead of regular hot lunches — to students whose parents had not paid their lunch balances. 

Reducing sugar

The Health and Wellness Advisory Committee for the schools recently recommended reducing the sugar content of the food and drinks served in Barrington Public Schools. 

In addition to changes regarding lunch time, lunch service, and food presentation, the committee also  recommended:

• Consideration of a trial period of serving only unflavored milk at the K-5 level for the next school year;

• Revising the sugar content limits for food served across the district, from 35 percent sugar by weight to 25 percent sugar by weight (mostly affecting snack foods at the middle and high school)

According to a recent notice from the district, the school committee plans to seek feedback on the proposed recommendations.