OT: School Lunch Issue

[DisneyAprilFool]

Okay, here is the issue...

The elementary school, without notifying the parents of the children in the school that this system is in place, allows children to charge their lunches up to a certain point in the cafeteria and then suddenly sends notices home stating, "So and So owes this much money."

Now, when I called to discuss the fact that my stepson brings his lunch to school and therefore shouldn't be charging meals (what he did was decide that the pizza or whatever junk looked better then his lunch so he'd just go charge a meal)- I'm told that the parents have to tell the school the kids are not allowed to charge.

NOW- the school does not NOTIFY the parents of this fact until the kid starts charging up meals. Doesn't this seem backwards to ANYONE?

EDITED TO REITERATE:

There is NOTHING in the student handbook, nothing in the pamphlets sent home, nothing in black and white sent to the home that states that there is automatically a charge count set up for your child and your child may charge lunches unless you call and request the account be closed. Therefore, there is NOTHING notifying you about this system before your child starts school unless your child charges meals and a bill is sent home.

Shouldn't it be that a child cannot charge a meal WITHOUT their parents' permission versus the other way around? It is such an easy system for kids to take advantage of it- I mean, come on- when I was a kid, I'd have preferred to have french fries and a hamburger to whatever my Mom packed! But the school didn't allow US to just 'charge' the meal!

I'm really irritated about this.

 

[Hannathy]

I'm sorry to say this but your anger is mis placed. The person you should be angry with is your son not the school. I see nothing wrong with allowing children to charge a meal, how are they to know if the child really forgot their lunch or just doesn't want to eat what they have. I as a parent would MUCH rather have them allow all kids to charge if they ask than to have a child who forgot their lunch have to go hungry. It is not their job to parent.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

It is not their job to parent.

Most schools, however, are happy to attempt it!

 

[DawnM]

Well, I would be somewhat upset, although school lunches are pretty cheap and I wouldn't mind paying.

But I would like to know beforehand that the school is allowing this so that I can tell my child he can or cannot do this. That way, if he disobeyed I could take it out of his allowance or whatever.

It does seem to me that they should send something home ahead of time.

Placing blame on a child who truly didn't know he wasn't supposed to isn't really fair.

Dawn

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

I agree that your anger is misplaced. I too would rather the school front my kid lunch money than have him go hungry in the event of a mistake on my part.

Placing blame on a child who truly didn't know he wasn't supposed to isn't really fair.

Dawn

I think any child whose parent packs them a lunch knows that they are supposed to eat it rather than trash it in favor of something good. Kids aren't stupid, but they can be pretty darned sneaky.

 

[GraysMom]

I know some parents whose kids abused the CafTrac charging system got pretty upset about it. I know the parents could call and tell the lunch staff that the child was only allowed to buy, for example, the tray lunch with no extras (snacks, extra desserts, juice, etc) and the lunch staff could actually use the computer system to "block" charges for extras. Some kids would just end up buying two trays of food to get the extra desserts , and I think the parents were able to also block that so the kids could only get one tray, with no extras each day.

I do think it's kind of backwards to let the kids charge food when the acct is empty, but some of the kids in my class wouldn't eat lunch very often if they weren't able to charge it (parents weren't on the ball enough/didn't have enough money at the time/no food at home to pack). I think our caf allowed the students to charge up to $15 before they wouldn't accept the charges anymore. Our caf also sent home notices (daily until the bill was brought up to date-boy was that a pain for us to deal with handing out all the time) as soon as the students went into the red at all (even if it was just a nickel). Sometimes the parents just didn't check the backpacks well and didn't get the notices for a week or so also.

If you know your stepson won't be eating lunch on tray more than a couple of times a year, you might be able to talk to the lunch staff and have them block his card completely. Then you could just send in money for the days he wants to eat on tray. I would not expect the lunch staff to open/close his account multiple times throughout the year though, since that would be a nightmare for them to deal with (multiply it by 600 kids in our building ).

 

[sconnell]

Well, I can see both sides, but I do think that the kids should not be allowed to charge without the parents knowing. The point is that the parents didn't even know that they could be charging for their lunch. I've left home without a lunch ticket for my daughter and they will let me charge it, but the case here is that a kid can essentially create a charge account without the parent's knowledge. They should have some way to differentiate whether or not they can allow charge.
If a kid forgets a lunch, (which does happen) it's pretty easy for someone to call the parents and say, hey, Johnny doesn't have a lunch today, do you want them to charge it?
OP, Just wondering, how old is your step-son?

 

[DisneyAprilFool]

Let me explain a few things...

Oh, I AM upset at my 11 year old. He knew better then to charge lunches when he had lunch in his bag. Don't even think he's not one of the people I'm irritated with!

HOWEVER, without notifying parents- how do they know kids can charge meals when we didn't even set up any sort of account for the child to charge on? Shouldn't that be a part of the welcome package to the school?

Also, he charged up about $20 in meals! We aren't talking about ONE lunch. We are talking about a repeat offender here- why doesn't the school notify the parents after ONE meal or TWO meals?

 

[Schmeck]

Most schools, however, are happy to attempt it!

Actually, in the schools I have worked in, the opposite is true - the teachers are sick and tired of trying to teach kids manners and other skills that parents should be teaching. Elementary schools waste so much educational time dealing with proper behavior, personal grooming, etc, it's pathetic! And then the parents complain when their little darling isn't improving academically.

Information about the lunch program and charging policy are sent home the first week of school in a large packet of info, at least that's how we do it in this district. Not all parents read it though...

 

[sconnell]

I agree that your anger is misplaced. I too would rather the school front my kid lunch money than have him go hungry in the event of a mistake on my part.

Ok, say it's a Kindergartner or 1st or 2nd grader who see's kids getting some pizza and they have a ham and cheese and the cheese is weird cause it get's that way. Of course they are going to get in line to get some pizza! If the parent's didn't know that it's an option for their children to charge their lunch, then they wouldn't have told them that they can't charge their lunch and that they have to eat what is packed. -- Now, if the kid is in 5th grade and is just being sneeky, then that's a whole other story. (That would have been my DH, but he would have eaten both!)

 

[Tammysue5]

At the school my son attends, They have computerized cards and parents can look every night on the website (with your password) to not only see what the charge was but what exactly the child ate. The son I am refering to is 16 and fortunately does not take advantage of this.. he does order alacarte' (which is slightly more expensive) but we had discussed this prior to advoid confusion.

I would however, be upset that my child be allowed to charge without my knowlegde. They needed to send out a letter/memo at the first of the year to alert parents that this 'charging' even exists. I think that this is different then if a child 'forgets' his lunch.... school will call and we can either bring it up or have them get lunch there. (They would never let the child go hungery) Thanks for sharing!

 

[DisneyAprilFool]

"If the parent's didn't know that it's an option for their children to charge their lunch, then they wouldn't have told them that they can't charge their lunch and that they have to eat what is packed."

Exactly. It wasn't in the information given to us at the beginning of the school year- I read everything and anything handed to us from the school- that's just the type of person I am. ALTHOUGH I don't believe, for an instant, that the kid didn't know that he was supposed to eat what was packed!

 

[tjmw2727]

Here the kids can't charge lunch until you start the account by having them purchase lunch once, I usually send in about $20.00 at a time. Then if they get close to running out they receive a slip saying how much is left in the account. Once the account is empty they may charge one lunch of their choice and after that if they try and charge again they get the cold sandwich of the day, milk and a fruit, no pizza, no dessert etc.

This is ok with me, if they forget to ask for more $ or I forget to send it at least they get something to eat but it dosen't encourage charging to get the "good lunch" .

FWIW we did get a packet at the beginning of the school year explaning it but with all the stuff that gets sent home it would be easy to overlook. In the early elementary grades the parents get a monthly summary of the lunch account.

TJ

 

[Tammysue5]

Disney April fool

I can understand your feelings, I too would have been upset. I have 4 children and even the youngest ones 8 and 5 would have thought twice about doing this. They would have 'known' that it was expected that they eat the lunch I packed. I could even give the benefit of doubt that they might have decided that hot lunch looked good and got that instead,, but they would have told me after school. (actually I am one of those moms that asks lots of questions... even still ask my 16 yr old DS what he had for lunch and how was it... believe it or not my kids are used to me asking and actually want to share their day with me)
My 8 yr old takes her lunch (16 yr old son buys, by choice and the 8 yr old DD
wants me to pack her a lunch everyday) I have an account at her school set up for her for those days she may decide she wants hot lunch or if I am running late.


Looks like we are going to WDW about the same time! Free Dining! Sept. 11th-21st. YEAH!

 

[DisneyAprilFool]

Yes, I'm super excited about free dining Cannot wait to go! At this rate, I may leave the kids at home

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Actually, in the schools I have worked in, the opposite is true - the teachers are sick and tired of trying to teach kids manners and other skills that parents should be teaching. Elementary schools waste so much educational time dealing with proper behavior, personal grooming, etc, it's pathetic! And then the parents complain when their little darling isn't improving academically.

Yes, another reason my child will not be part of the Class of 2022...or 2023, since he'd be held back another year due to his birthday!

 

[xoprincessmomxo]

I remember being in middle school once, and the boy in front of me didn't have any $ left in his account. The checkout lady took his tray away and he had to go sit down and watch the rest of the kids eat. The assistant principal grabbed a tray for him and told the lunch lady that "ever child eats lunch here". He was a great principal. Next year, the charging system went into effect and you could charge up to $5 before a notice was sent home....Back then there was one meal. You liked it or you brought lunch from home. So I can see both sides. I'd hate to see kids go hungry,but that would be an easy situation to take advantage of. Maybe a $5 allowance and only the basic lunch could be charged??? I don't know. I personally wish that all school lunches were healthy and free of charge so every student got a healthy meal at least once a day. But that's not going to happen now, is it?

 

[reginaastralis]

I don't understand the charging thing, $20 is a lot of food.

At my sisters school, she has an account where my mom puts money on it. Jordyn is allowed one trip up to the snack line, where she can buy one thing. This girl would eat nothing but junk, and has, before my mom put that rule into place. My mom is able to check online and see what Jordyn has eaten ... and has taken away snack line privliges when she breaks my moms rule.

However, at this school, if you charge once, you get the hot meal. If you charge again without paying the previous charge, you get either a peanut butter sandwhich or cheese, milk and fruit. That's it. They won't "let the kid go hungry" but who wants a cheese sandwhich?

My mom's a teacher, which has saved Jordyn when she forgets to tell my mom her balance. They have student numbers that the kids start memorizing in kindergarten, it also tracks what food is sold through the cafeteria.

Don't even get me started on how most days there's not even a vegetable offered at her school.

 

[Matt'sMom]

Okay, here is the issue...

The elementary school, without notifying the parents of the children in the school, allows children to charge their lunches up to a certain point in the cafeteria and then suddenly sends notices home stating, "So and So owes this much money." ...Doesn't this seem backwards to ANYONE?

Shouldn't it be that a child cannot charge a meal WITHOUT their parents' permission versus the other way around?

Does your school not send home a handbook of info at the begining of the year? Ours does, and all of the school district's policies are stated within. Are there schools in the USA that do not provide info to parents regarding basic school policies (such as schedules, transportation, lunches, etc.)?

Was nothing stated about the policy of allowing students to charge a meal if they didn't have the money to pay outright, and then parents being responsible for reimbursing the school? Or was it just that you did not realize there was a potential for this policy being abused, and are upset because DSS was deliberately tossing his packed lunch in favor of charging?

Personally, I am very glad that (on those couple rare occassions when I forgot to refill my DS's lunch money wallet) our school will allow a child to obtain an occassional lunch on 'credit'... and then send home a note letting the parents know that payment is owed. Can you imagine telling a child... "Sorry, no lunch for you today, because you don't have the appropriate amount of money in hand."??? THAT would bother me tremendously. Letting kids charge a lunch vs forcing them to go without a meal--seems the schools have indeed chosen the lesser evil in this case.

It's too bad the adults involved didn't catch onto the fact that your DSS already had a perfectly good packed lunch from home, and had no legitimate reason to be charging. But I'd personally be more upset with the child who knowingly did this, as oppossed to the school system that set up the policy in order to prevent kids in need from going hungry. Hope it all works out for you.

 

[olbear]

Well, this has sure been an interesting thread to read. Mainly because I am an Elementary School Cafeteria Manager. I am new having just finished my internship. I have been managing a School Way Cafe for just alittle less than a month.

And in the short period of time, I've seen alot. One of the saddest is to see a child come through the line, with either no money or worse yet, they owe money, and mom and dad haven't paid. At this time we allow them to charge 2 meals at the $1.35 price, then they are given a PBJ and milk for 40cents up to $7.50 balance. Believe me when I say how very very much it pains myself and my workers to take a way a nice lunch tray and give a child a PBJ & milk instead. This past week has been the worst, and although I'm not required or supposed to, I give them a mini bag of carrots as well.

So although many of you dilike the charging, it has helped many students who would not be able to eat "anything" otherwise. Just to let you know, every child in our county has a lunch account. It is automatic. There are 3 different accounts, Paid, reduced or free. This varies according to parents income. And yes, you can call the cafe manager and let them know specifics such as no ala carte and the like. And remember, if your school is like ours, you can call anytime and find our what your child is spending their money on.

Our School policy is we send a letter home everyday with those who owe a minimum of 40 cents. That is the price of a reduced lunch. And although it doesn't seem like much, when you serve over 600 students daily as I do, it adds up quicker than you think. SO we do our best to stay on top of it.

Today I gave my priciple a list of negative balance accounts and it was just under $100 owed to the cafeteria. This is still after sending home letters everyday, and phone calls being made to bring accounts current and paid.
This $100 balance will be paid by a local church who volunteers to pay balances not paid by the end of the year. This is quite generous, but also a shame that parents ignore requests. And yes, I do understand that many times the student looses or forgets to give parents the letter.

All in all, I want everyone to understand that we as Cafe personel do everything to make sure your children are well fed and happy at lunch time. And believe me when I say it is ALOT of hard work. But yes, very rewarding.

Thanks for reading and blessings,
Winnie