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Clearing Cafeteria Debt Without Shaming Children

Is there a better way than simply withholding meals from kids with overdrawn accounts?

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

February 10, 2014

1 Min Read
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It's perhaps the most perplexing issue facing K-12 foodservcie operators: how do you handle kids whose lunch accounts are overdrawn but who don't qualify for government subsidized meals? Many schools paper over the problem by providing at least younger students with minimal meals such as cheese or peanut butter sandwiches.

An extensive article by Dana Woldow, a child nutrition advocate, explores the issue and suggests alternatives that are already being tried in some districts, including withholding report cards or even diplomas, or barring students with overdrawn accounts from participating in school activities. The article appears in BeyondChron, a Bay Area alternative newspaper,

See the full story here, at Clearing Cafeteria Debt Without Shaming Children.

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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