This ticks me off ( school lunch related )

[pat fan]

it's also possible that they are scamming the system. if they are, doesn't that take away money that could be used to help other people? why shouldn't people get upset if that is happening?
****************************************************

Actualy,it helps the school system to have more free/reduced kids than full pay kids. Say lunch costs 1.20 as someone stated.Ok, that's what full-price is. Reduced is .40, but the state reimburses you $1-$1.20 for each meal, the same for free.So you actualy make MORE money for the school when you get the free/reduced than if they pay full price (after you add what they give plus what you get from the state).Screwey, I know, but it's the way government works.

Plus, if you have a large portion of your population on free/reduced the school gets other benefits,too.Not that I'm condoning cheating,I just think there are some misconceptions about the program.

I wish my kids got a discount for me working in the kitchen (K-6) but that just doesn't happen!

 

[stm61]

I want to know why everybody's schools seem to be charging about $1.20 for lunch when my elementary charges $2.10 and the middle and high schools are more then that! We make a few $ to much for the reduced prices so my kids live on baloney and pb&j sandwiches for 9 months. The sad part is I was a teacher before 9/11 and taught inner city low income kids, the majority of the school was free or reduced, and the kids rarely ate the food. They would take a bite or two of the sandwich/meat, maybe a bite of the fruit, eat the desert and drink the milk. The rest went into the trash untouched! And the majority of the kids wore name brand shoes and clothes that my kids will never have, even with both of us working. What's wrong with that picture?

 

[missyc]

I am one that didn't agree with the original poster's "concerns" about another family's financial situation. I just think it's strange to be so hung up about what car they have, how they spend their time, etc.
BUT.........I will say that my son is going (by choice) to a different districted school this year and it is in a low income area and most of the kids are minority. This did not affect our decision to send DS there. In fact, I prefer it over his districted, snobby school with all the "country club moms"! Buying school clothes and supplies was a struggle again this year, but we made it! Probably wouldn't have if it hadn't been for a generous gift from my DB.
Anyways, DS is in middle school this year. First year with no uniforms. Fashion became very popular while school shopping!
He came home and told me about a certain kid who seems to be "loaded". Has about 3 pairs of name brand shoes that run close to $100 each, REALLY nice clothes, etc. DS noticed only because a lot of it was stuff he wanted, but couldn't afford (like $40 shirts and denim shorts).
This is fine, except that this boy argued with a teacher in class yesterday that he didn't have the supplies needed, like a spiral notebook, because his family is poor and can't afford it!
My son is very aware of how we struggle to make ends meet sometimes and is very conscientious (sp?) about certain things like that. At 11 years old even he knew the kid was full of crap!
Maybe he gets free lunches too?!
It happens ALL the time, we just can't make our lives miserable worrying about other people like that!
There are SO many people out there that really deserve more. If we all just put some of the energy wasted on worrying about what the Jones' have into other things we might see the world a little differently.
Go spend an hour in a homeless shelter, VA hospital, mental hospital, migrant camp, hospice, etc, etc., and these people with their conversion van and free lunches won't even cross your mind when you're falling asleep at night.