No corn dog for you!
Posted on 08/01/2006 4:31:27 AM PDT by Cagey
TAMPA, Fla. -- Hillsborough school officials said Monday that students who owe schools lunch money will have to dine on cheese sandwiches until their parents pay up.
Under the new debt collection plan, hundreds of students whose parents owe the school system money from last year's lunches will get a cheese sandwich, milk and fruit instead of more popular choices such as corn dogs, lasagna roll-up or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
The district estimates it is still owed more than $63,000.
The school began cracking down on unpaid lunch bills in 2003 when officials said they were owed $1.6 million in unpaid bills. They also plan to hire a collection agency to pursue debts from bad checks.
The district allows students to charge a few lunches before the cheese sandwich rule kicks in. They unveiled the plan in July at a year-round school.
School starts in Tampa on Thursday.
No corn dog for you!
The diet police will be happy...
So, schools here have given pb&j for as long as I can remember. It's not going to kill the kids. Besides, everyone gets free breakfast so none are starving.
Better yet, the schools should crack down on those lying parents who sign up for free or reduced lunches knowing full well no one is going to verify their incomes.
There must be another way of collecting the debt rather than stigmatizing the child.
If we measured the economy on how many kids were on this program we'd be in a Depression as bad as the 1930's.
What's wrong with cheese sandwiches? I eat them.
I think it's like a fruit roll-up, but made with meatballs.
Mom, Dad...Don't Pay!!! I wanna stick with the cheese sandwich!
Although there is empathy for this position, you will find that in most of these cases the problem is not money. None of them will starve and at home they have plenty of video games, toys, etc. The number of reduced fee children nationwide would amaze you and we all are the ones paying the bill. A majority of parents don't see this as their responsibility to pay. It is one of the lowest priority bills on their list. People who live reasonably well and pay all their bills otherwise are usually the ones most guilty in this case.
I like 'em too!
Well, the kids certainly aren't going to learn a sense of shame from their deadbeat folks.
Why should a school be feeding someone's kids? Parents too lazy or stupid to make a sandwich? If kid is old enough he or she can put 2 slices of bread together and toss in a bannana. Geez, the Nanny State!
Cheese is too god for them . put em on bread and water.
Sarcasm folks.
Cheese is too good for them . put em on bread and water.
Sarcasm folks.
YEah, the other kids will know who is eating a deadbeat lunch and they will be humiliated.
What's wrong with a thin gruel?
The school across the street from my house has a number on their sign for you to call to get free lunches during the summertime.
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