How does your school handle the lunch policy?

[mum4jenn]

Children are not legally required to attend McDonald's for 7 hours a day, and not every parent really gives a crap whether their kid eats or not. It's easy for a responsible parent to SAY "well they should do this, this, or this," but the fact of the matter is that some don't and never will. So is it *really* fair to take food out of a kid's hands and toss it in the trash when it's the parent being irresponsible? Why not take it to the court system or some other way to make the parent pay rather than the child who's caught in the middle?

When you walk into any food establishment you are expecting to be fed a meal. They are expecting to be paid for that food. Same thing for a school lunchroom....you send your child to school expecting that child to be fed when meal time comes...we expect to to paid for that meal.

 

[luvsJack]

But alas--the article that inspired this lovely conversation....

The kid was being irresponsible.

The food is thrown in the trash b/c he handled it. It cannot be provided to another student.

Again--the schools have limited resources as it is, they are not in the business of debt collections.

Is it fair? ABSOLUTELY. The kid in the article stole the food. He was not an impoverished starving child. He was an unruly teenager that tested authority and lost. Handled food cannot be redistributed. It is the teen's fault that it got tossed, end of story. (ETA: He was toldhe couldn't take it when it was revealed that he already had an outstanding deficit from forgetting his moeny other times. The kid took it to a table anyway. )

So with these limited resources it was more cost effective to throw the food away?

And they don't have to get into debt collections. All they have to do is put a hold on any and all paperwork. The kid doesn't get a report card and doesn't get promoted until bill is paid; no one has to actually do anything.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

So with these limited resources it was more cost effective to throw the food away?

And they don't have to get into debt collections. All they have to do is put a hold on any and all paperwork. The kid doesn't get a report card and doesn't get promoted until bill is paid; no one has to actually do anything.

Chances are--if they throw away the food once instead of keeping a bar tab....

They won't throw away much food, will they? The kid learns that hey--they are serious....I'll remember that money next time.

It just isn't a cross to die on.

They throw away the food due to health department regulations...not as a punishment to the child.

But the kid in the article--knowing that they wont' let him keep the food he can't pay for, don't you think he'll now remember his money?

 

[teacherforhi]

So with these limited resources it was more cost effective to throw the food away?

And they don't have to get into debt collections. All they have to do is put a hold on any and all paperwork. The kid doesn't get a report card and doesn't get promoted until bill is paid; no one has to actually do anything.

So, we can't punish the students by not feeding them when they have an outstanding balance, but we can make them stay in 6th grade (or whatever) untill it's paid? How is that a logical consequence?

For the record, our system lets elementary and middle school students charge 3 meals. After that, they receive an alternative meal of a vegetable, a fruit, and milk.

 

[luvsJack]

So, we can't punish the students by not feeding them when they have an outstanding balance, but we can make them stay in 6th grade (or whatever) untill it's paid? How is that a logical consequence?

For the record, our system lets elementary and middle school students charge 3 meals. After that, they receive an alternative meal of a vegetable, a fruit, and milk.

At dd's elementary school, if any money is owed the child cannot receive their report card until all is paid. If they come the next year to go to school and have not paid the balance (this is for workbook fees, non returned library books, lunch fees, anything the child may owe for), the parents are called and told they have to come to the school and pay the balance or come and get their child. I suppose the kid is actually promoted, so could go to another school but that would be a big deal for a few dollars of lunch money. Its sort of the same thing we do at the college level when they owe money. The student can finish the classes and pass the classes; they just can't do anything with it until they pay their balance.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

The lunch would have been unsellable anyway. They pick up the lunch from the line, then when they get to the cash registers, if the kid owes, they throw the lunch away. It's not like they can put the food back on the shelf.

That's what bothers me about the whole thing. There's just something so disrespectful and sleazy about taking food off of a hungry kid and tossing it in the trash. Surely there's a better way to handle it.

My first district did this. So infuriating and avoidable.

In the district I work in now, the students punch in their lunch number BEFORE they get their food---if there's no money in the account (actually, if they're $5 in debt), they wait until everyone else has gone through the line and get a very basic lunch (a bun and the veggies, I think, and a milk).

Admittedly, I haven't read the whole thread, but several PPs mentioned that in jr. high/high school it is their responsibility to get the money in to the account. This assumes there is money available to put in to the account. Most of the kids I see in this situation have parents who can't or won't pay for lunch---many would qualify for free/reduced, but either because of pride or because they're unaware, the parents haven't done the paperwork. Yes, older students need to start shouldering some responsibility, but sometimes it's not the kid that's shirking the responsibility...and I think we should err on the side of taking care of the child.

 

[MushyMushy]

My first district did this. So infuriating and avoidable.

In the district I work in now, the students punch in their lunch number BEFORE they get their food---if there's no money in the account (actually, if they're $5 in debt), they wait until everyone else has gone through the line and get a very basic lunch (a bun and the veggies, I think, and a milk).

Admittedly, I haven't read the whole thread, but several PPs mentioned that in jr. high/high school it is their responsibility to get the money in to the account. This assumes there is money available to put in to the account. Most of the kids I see in this situation have parents who can't or won't pay for lunch---many would qualify for free/reduced, but either because of pride or because they're unaware, the parents haven't done the paperwork. Yes, older students need to start shouldering some responsibility, but sometimes it's not the kid that's shirking the responsibility...and I think we should err on the side of taking care of the child.

Yep, we are in total agreement on this.

 

[luvmy3]

I am not saying they should send home a detailed account statement!

I work with student accounts every day. The student gives me their student number, I key it in and bring up their account. It tells me what they have charged (books, meals, etc.), what has been paid, etc. I can tell them in 3 seconds what they owe; everyday if they want me to.

Most school's lunch systems are going to work the same way. Student takes their tray, walks up to the cashier and gives her their student number, the computer tells her -$10.00 (as in they have a $10 credit on their account and have enough to buy lunch) or $0 (as in they have used all of their credit) or $4.00 (as in they owe money)--how much effort does it take to read that number to the student????? I am not saying anyone needs to do anything extra! All I said was that person at that computer can take 2.5 seconds and say "you won't have enough in your account to buy lunch tomorrow". She is already sitting there, she is already looking at the number--it doesn't take that much effort.

I am not asking anyone to pay for my child's lunch. That is my responsibility. When the cashier tells dd "you only have $1.50 left in your account" or some such (as is her JOB to do); I send a check for $25 or so and we continue on. I am not asking for a phone call or an email or anything. Its dd's responsibility to tell me what she said so I am not asking for the lady to take that on. I am not saying they should do anything they are not already doing--all they have to do is open their mouth and SAY THE WORDS.

I guess tomorrow I will tell our college students, "nope, it is not my responsibility to tell you this number I am clearly looking at. It is your responsibility to keep up with it".

You are still confusing a courtesy with a responsibility. You could tell the kids its not your responsibilty, or you could tell them nothing, or you could tell them what their balance is, that is all a choice you personally are making and you are free to do any of those things. I certainly don't expect the women in the cafeteria to be reminding my children every day of what their balance is, do I appreciate that they do, of course, but I don't believe they have to because its not their job to make sure my child or anyone elses has enough money to cover their lunches. The whole point of the online payments IS so parents are able to keep track, at some point we really do need to be responsible for our own kids and stop making excuses for why everyone else could or should.

 

[luvmy3]

So, we can't punish the students by not feeding them when they have an outstanding balance, but we can make them stay in 6th grade (or whatever) untill it's paid? How is that a logical consequence?

For the record, our system lets elementary and middle school students charge 3 meals. After that, they receive an alternative meal of a vegetable, a fruit, and milk.

So what are the schools supposed to do when they lose $6000 a year in unpaid luch fees? They need to get that money somehow, so if parents aren't willing to just pay it maybe the threat of their child not being able to register without it being paid would get them to do it.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I checked the policy for our school.

I'd had no idea because I use mealpay.com and it emails me automatically when there lunch money balance reaches a certain level. the parent gets to pick the level. All county schools in our area use this website and it's so quick and easy. You can also pay by check weekly, monthly, ect., They discourage kids from paying daily because they don't keep cash on hand to make change.

So the policy is they will give your child a PB&J sandwich or just a Jelly sandwich if they are allergic to peanut butter, white milk and an apple. The policy says they will do it twice in a row but doesn't say what happens after that if the parent doesn't pay.

 

[pooh4evr]

Our district sends home a balance letter (you choose the $ amt you want to be notified at) for instance I get one for our girls when the have $5 left in their account- our lunches are pretty cheap too at 1.50 (entree, side, salad bar, fruit, and drink (milk or water))

 

[luvsJack]

You are still confusing a courtesy with a responsibility. You could tell the kids its not your responsibilty, or you could tell them nothing, or you could tell them what their balance is, that is all a choice you personally are making and you are free to do any of those things. I certainly don't expect the women in the cafeteria to be reminding my children every day of what their balance is, do I appreciate that they do, of course, but I don't believe they have to because its not their job to make sure my child or anyone elses has enough money to cover their lunches. The whole point of the online payments IS so parents are able to keep track, at some point we really do need to be responsible for our own kids and stop making excuses for why everyone else could or should.

Uhhh, no. It is not my personal choice. It is a part of my job. I happily tell them what they owe or how much credit they have, what they charged and give them a detailed statement if they ask for it or seem to be confused about anything.

I have no clue what is or isn't done at your school, but the lady that sits at the end of the line at dd's school? Its her JOB to keep up with the accounts. And it is her JOB to say "you have xxx left in your account". Its a part of the process. I know its hard to believe (and I certainly don't mean me) but there are people that still don't have a computer. There has to be a another process for them to know what is going on with their kid's account. Just like in my job, I have to print things that are readily available on our website for people that do not have a computer.

Ok, I am confused now. Was this kid in the OP told he owed money? Or was it just that his Dad wasn't told.

 

[teacher100]

My school lets them charge 3 meals. Each day a automatic phone call goes home to all children who are having to charge. After that they get fruit, roll and milk. I personally have paid for kids meals after this because I feel sorry for them and the parents pay me back when they find out I am doing that. For some reason they don't worry about the lunchroom footing the bill. The only time I had a problem was when I paid for lunch for week for a child. The parents were going through a separation so I felt that there may be a hardship somewhere. I sent a free/reduced lunch form home and explained I had paid for the lunch for a week, and I just couldn't do it. (I have 3 kids who take there lunch to school after all because it is cheaper for me to do that!) I got a note back telling me they weren't a charity case and no one asked me to pay for their child's lunch.

The problem I have with lunchrooms is the extras. They put all this stuff on the line the my little kids don't realize is extra money. Then their account gets overdrawn without the parent knowing!

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

The problem I have with lunchrooms is the extras. They put all this stuff on the line the my little kids don't realize is extra money. Then their account gets overdrawn without the parent knowing!

I think the extras are ridiculous as well. My oldest is still in elementary, so we don't have to worry about that, yet. When I was a student, there were no extras in middle school, and in highschool you had to pay for extras with cash. No putting it on your food balance.

 

[golfgal]

The problem I have with lunchrooms is the extras. They put all this stuff on the line the my little kids don't realize is extra money. Then their account gets overdrawn without the parent knowing!

Doesn't your school have a way to block those? I know in middle school we could request that a block be put on the account so they couldn't charge things like that. For us, we just told the kids that they couldn't buy that stuff with their lunch money and if they wanted extras they had to use cash. We gave them $5/week and they could either spend it on ala carte stuff or keep it.

 

[teacher100]

There is a way to block it, but it is done, but parents find out about it after the fact. I am speaking from the parents side here. My kids don't go to my school. As a teacher I include this fact in my beginning of the year letter.

 

[daughtersrus]

Our school district has had "lunch accounts" for over 15 years. The students would swipe their card. When DD was in middle school (several years ago), her lunch account balance was going low every few days. I finally asked the school to give me a print out. Sure enough, someone from another period lunch was taking DD's card and using it (all of the cards were on the wall in number order at the very front. kind of like time cards). I questioned the school and they won't do anything about it. For the rest of the year, I gave DD cash to pay for lunch when she wanted to buy. The cashier didn't like it but it wasn't against the rules so I called the school and explained. She didn't have a problem using cash after that.

Things have changed a bit since then. They still use cards in elementary school but at the MS and HS levels, they use their ID with a pin#. This solves the problem that we had.

We have always been able to block the "extras" and "doubles" from the accounts. This allows parents some control over what their children are buying.

As to the original question. Our district does 2 "loan" lunches. If the balance is not caught up and the child tries to buy lunch, they are given a PBJ sandwich and a milk. I have no idea what happens to the food that they may have had on the tray. If it's wrapped, they may put it back but I would assume that anything unwrapped is thrown away.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Uhhh, no. It is not my personal choice. It is a part of my job. I happily tell them what they owe or how much credit they have, what they charged and give them a detailed statement if they ask for it or seem to be confused about anything.

I have no clue what is or isn't done at your school, but the lady that sits at the end of the line at dd's school? Its her JOB to keep up with the accounts. And it is her JOB to say "you have xxx left in your account". Its a part of the process. I know its hard to believe (and I certainly don't mean me) but there are people that still don't have a computer. There has to be a another process for them to know what is going on with their kid's account. Just like in my job, I have to print things that are readily available on our website for people that do not have a computer.

Ok, I am confused now. Was this kid in the OP told he owed money? Or was it just that his Dad wasn't told.

This is my contention - the article states inconsistancies in the proceedure. The cafeteria worker at the register is supposed to tell the student when their balance is low and/or overdrawn. However, the article goes on to say that at least one other student's account is currently in the negative and that kid was never told. Now, in that instance, the kid's dad works in the school system. Will that kid have the vice-principal and a teacher accost him in the cafeteria demanding he throw his "stolen" lunch in the trash or will they let HIM eat it and then contact his parents to tell them "Hey, Johnny can't get lunch tomorrow unless you send a check in"?

That's what, I feel, the policy should be.
1 - notify the kid that their balance is getting low and/or is $0
2 - at $0 balance, a la carte items are not allowed but the kid can still get a lunch (which is charged to the kid's account thus overdrawing)
3 - notice is sent home via phone, note, email, whatever to inform parents that kid's account is overdrawn and $ needs to be sent in (or the parent needs to call and request hardship help) within 2 days or kiddo will not be able to get lunch
4 - follow through with no lunch. Parents and the kid were both adequately informed that there will be no lunch two days from notice so the parents have no leg to stand on trying to call foul and the district's shortage is kept to a minimum (3 days of standard lunch is around $7 in my district).
5 - final report cards won't be sent out until all outstanding debts are paid in full - this should include lunch accounts.

 

[mickeylove2]

There is a way to block it, but it is done, but parents find out about it after the fact. I am speaking from the parents side here. My kids don't go to my school. As a teacher I include this fact in my beginning of the year letter.

At my DDs' school the letter that they send home every Monday with their balance is also half of a form, you write the amount that you are sending in for their lunch accounts and check meal only or meal and snacks. If you check meal only, they cannot charge snacks so it's ultimately the parents' fault if their kids are charging snacks and their balance is lower than realized because they didn't check the right choice.

 

[luvsJack]

This is my contention - the article states inconsistancies in the proceedure. The cafeteria worker at the register is supposed to tell the student when their balance is low and/or overdrawn. However, the article goes on to say that at least one other student's account is currently in the negative and that kid was never told. Now, in that instance, the kid's dad works in the school system. Will that kid have the vice-principal and a teacher accost him in the cafeteria demanding he throw his "stolen" lunch in the trash or will they let HIM eat it and then contact his parents to tell them "Hey, Johnny can't get lunch tomorrow unless you send a check in"?

That's what, I feel, the policy should be.
1 - notify the kid that their balance is getting low and/or is $0
2 - at $0 balance, a la carte items are not allowed but the kid can still get a lunch (which is charged to the kid's account thus overdrawing)
3 - notice is sent home via phone, note, email, whatever to inform parents that kid's account is overdrawn and $ needs to be sent in (or the parent needs to call and request hardship help) within 2 days or kiddo will not be able to get lunch
4 - follow through with no lunch. Parents and the kid were both adequately informed that there will be no lunch two days from notice so the parents have no leg to stand on trying to call foul and the district's shortage is kept to a minimum (3 days of standard lunch is around $7 in my district).
5 - final report cards won't be sent out until all outstanding debts are paid in full - this should include lunch accounts.

Now see, that is my issue with taking this kid's food. If they didn't tell him then the fault goes back to them and if this other kid got to eat that day, then I would be raising cain! Just because his father works in the district does not mean the rules are different.