The school district I work for is over $100,000 in debt, just from lunch money not being paid. So, the new superintendent made a new policy that says, from now on if kids have too many lunch credits they will be given milk, a fruit or vegetable and a cheese sandwich, instead of the tray of food on the menu that day. Since they made this policy, they have received $42,000 in back pay from parents and have had a few hundred (finally) sign up for help.I know this will probably open the flood gates, but I agree with the school district. Why should I have to pay for YOUR child to eat? Some parents say it will stigmatize their children, because the other kids will know who can't afford the tray of food. You don't want your child stigmatized, send them with a sack lunch. A tray of food is only $1.25-$1.50. I know some parents have legitimate problems coming up with this, then they need to sign up for the Free or Reduced Lunch Program. I know some of my kids say they can't afford it, but then got a WII for Christmas. I have other kids who say they can't afford it and their parents smoke. I say, give up the cigarettes and then your child could eat.
I am happy the new superintendent of schools is making these rules. It's about time we had some change that makes sense.
7 comments:
Amen sista!!! I couldn't agree with you more!!
I send my son's lunch every day....he never, ever eats in the cafe.
I kept getting notices that we owed money....they finally took it off! I don't want to be billed for what someone else owes either!
I hear you! We work with families whose children are on Medicaid, there's food stamps, they beg us to buy a potty seat, toys, tricycles for their children, etc. AND they have tv's larger than ours, brand new cars, etc. I think it's a sense of entitlement - the gov't pays for our kids lunches, but now they need to do.....
I'm glad your superintendent is doing something about it!
Our school district does that except the kids get a pack of saltines, a cheese stick and a milk. I agree with you 100%. I wish they would come up with a better system to let us forgetful parents avoid this though. It happened to my son once and I will never hear the end of it :)
Ahhhh...a voice of reason! :) I couldn't agree more...my hubby and I have been following this on the news, too, and you just expressed exactly how I feel about it.
At my school, 97% are on free lunch...and the kids dress better than I do.
Our school uses a website called myschoollunch or something like that. Helps me to not forget to pay for lunch, also helps me control the teens from eating $40/day of pizza and junk. So that's good.
I know what you mean about the starving kids with a Wii. We get WIC for our fosters and I have to go pick up the checks every month. I have the worst car in the parking lot. The moms all have Coach bags and Blackberry's. Now there is a sign up in the WIC office that you can get free cell phone service if you qualify for some of the programs. It makes me ill. When did a cell phone become a human right?
Well said sister, people need to prioritize a little.
Good for him! A simple cheese sandwich with fruit and milk is still nutritious, and talk about stigma? Pay your bills, folks.
Kinda like the guy in AZ who has some tough love with his inmates. You wanna play, you gotta pay!
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