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Filed under: Opinions
Remember Wimpy, the cartoon character perhaps best known for his long running scam, "I'd gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today"? It seems the spirit of Wimpy is alive and well in Steamboat Springs, Colorado where the school district is owed nearly ten thousand dollars for students' school lunches.In an attempt to collect some of that money, the school district has cut off students who owe six dollars or more -- the cost of two lunches. When students returned to school after the winter break, they were told they could not get a hot lunch. Elementary students were given snack foods or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich; middle school students were given nothing.
"All the elementary kids, everybody, should have known. I don't understand how they couldn't have known, because we saturated them with notices," said Max Huppert, director of nutritional services for the district. In addition, school secretaries have been calling parents to let them know about overdue balances. Some accounts had balances of a hundred dollars or more.
I understand that parents are busy, juggling kids and work and household chores, but it seems to me that if they get a few notices and maybe even a call from the school, they could slip their kid a twenty to pay for lunch.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
1-14-2009 @ 2:30PM
moderate said...Way to go, did you even consider that some or most families cannot afford to pay. In this economy the school should look into this possibility. In a perfect world the parents should call and make arrangments, think how they must feel.
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1-14-2009 @ 3:30PM
LS said...If they can't afford to pay for hot school lunches, then they can do what the rest of us do, and spend about $10 to feed our kids for more than a week! A loaf of bread ~ $2.00, jar of peanut butter ~ $3.00, jar of jelly ~ $3.00, bag of apples ~ $1.00 (the small ones). And if they're REALLY strapped? Water to drink. It's the healthiest thing for them to drink anyway. Nutritious and filling. And cheap.
Further, Steamboat Springs, CO is not 'the projects'. It's an upper-middle class community. No reason other than laziness or arrogance to not pay the bill for your kids.
1-14-2009 @ 5:15PM
ame s said...I believe all school systems offer reduced cost or free lunches for families not financially able to buy them.
My county's school system offers reduced or free breakfast and lunch for those who qualify.
I don't think it was right to not give some kids anything at all, though.
1-14-2009 @ 2:59PM
rebecca Biernesser said...There is nothing wrong with what they did. I understand not having money, but these are your kids, which means you are in charge of feeding them. So either send in some money or send them with a sack lunch.
Our school district in Alabama does this. they have a weekly pre recorded call that goes out if your are low on money (it tells you how much there is...anytime under 5.00) and on another day if they call it's to say your negative. they don't turn students down. They give the bbj sandwich after a certain point when the student is negative. If they are just getting items like milk and are negative then they give them a cup for water. It's a great system, I think.
Last think you need is a school system trying to find money to cover costs of students lunches b/c parents are not providing for THEIR children.
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1-14-2009 @ 3:15PM
Clarissa said...I'm glad I don't live in Colorado! $3.00 bucks a day for school lunch is ridiculous! That's $540 for the school year, $15 a week and $90 for a 30 day month. Sheesh...no wonder why they have such a high unpaid bill!
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1-14-2009 @ 3:57PM
Pavlina said...I was sad when I read this in our school newsletter. I am sure there are going to be a few children who go to bed hungry because of this. Very sad indeed.
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1-14-2009 @ 5:15PM
ame s said...Our public school system offers reduced or free breakfast and lunch for those who qualify. There are many children who depend on the school meals for most of their daily calories. If a child's lunch money account falls a certain point into the negative, a peanut butter or cheese sandwich and milk is served, but it is charged to their account.
I can see how a parent may find themselves unexpectedly strapped for cash, but they should either call the school or the district office to explain & obtain a reduced/free enrollment form.
My 3rd grader attends public school and I wish we had an automated calling system! I don't receive any kind of balance statement unless her account hits the negative. I just try to remember to keep plenty of money in it (but not too much, she had some left over at the end of last school year, and they do not refund it) and I can call the cafeteria manager to check when needed.
My 5th grader attends a private school and a lunch account report is sent home with the students every Friday. A child is given a sandwich if their account reaches -$20. Their lunches ARE expensive. They are offered 2 or 3 hot choices, burgers, hotdogs, & grilled chicken sandwiches & several sides each day. If my daughter has a burger, fruit, a cookie & a bottle of water the cost is around $5. I can save $1 a day by sending a bottle of water with her but don't want to tell her to each cheaper or less because she is hungry by lunch time & ready for a snack when she gets home.
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1-15-2009 @ 1:17AM
mlf161406 said...I am the type of mom who will fix my kids something to eat right before bedtime even though they didn't bother to eat their dinner because I can't stand the thought of refusing them food. So it bothers me that some kids were given nothing to eat, but if they really did send notices home then the parents have to show some accountability. If they can't afford the lunches then they should be able to apply for free or reduced. Our school allows five charges and then one "survival" lunch, which is pb&j, and then they are cut off. Amazingly our small school district is set up with a online system that allows me to log in and see how much they have in their account and deposit money using my debit card. I love it!
1-17-2009 @ 7:31PM
Shannon said...whether or not the parents pay, the school has NO right to refuse to feed the children whose parents did not pay. it is not the children who arent paying, it is their parents and it is disgusting that the school is punishing the children for their parents mistakes. >:(
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