BY MARCI HEPPNER

The Katonah-Lewisboro Board of Education tied up some loose ends Tuesday night before the start of its summer hiatus. Parents and children should be pleased with some upcoming changes in food services at the six district schools next year. The board voted Tuesday to approve a $66,304 contract with Horizon Software International Inc. for a point-of-sale turnkey system, which should speed up cafeteria lines and improve service.

Students will be given ID cards, which they will use to check out at the cafeteria. According to school officials, parents can prepay for the cards so that children don't have to handle money or worry about losing their lunch money. It will even be possible for parents to pay online using credit cards.

The computerized system could also be used to control what children eat. The ID cards can be programmed to restrict the purchase of foods that parents do not want their children to eat because of dietary or nutrition concerns.

The system has other advantages, such as improved inventory controls and the ability to track students' food preferences.

"I know the district's food service committee was thrilled we were able to implement this, particularly for families that may have a diabetic child or other nutrition concerns," board president Donna Walsh said.

Schools superintendent Dr. Robert Lichtenfeld said the district has yet to decide if and when it will phase in the prepaid module, but he hopes to implement the dietary restrictions early on in order to address problems like food allergies.

The district's director of administrative services, John Spang, gave the board an update on the progress of the Segal Company, a consulting firm the district hired this spring to evaluate the district's health insurance. The Segal study includes an evaluation of the current plan's network of doctors and hospitals, a study of claims costs and how Katonah-Lewisboro's costs compare with other districts, and a claims audit of current claims procedures, performance, and efficiency.

Mr. Spang said the Segal auditors began their work yesterday and should finish this week. He said audits usually result in the return of money because of overpayments.

Once the audit and network evaluation are completed, the board will have to decide whether to stay with its present administrator, POMCO, or look elsewhere. That decision will be made by August 30.

Finally, the Segal Company will submit an analysis of how Katonah-Lewisboro's health care costs compare with similar plans among neigh-boring districts, as well as a projection of future costs. Mr. Spang said this portion of the study will be important to the district as it enters into contract negotiations this fall with teachers and district employees.