Pennsylvania school district considers relaxing approach to students with insufficient meal funds

PLUM, Pa. — The Plum school board ordered a revision to the district’'s lunch policy after hearing from the mother of a junior high school student who had his lunch taken away and thrown out because he had only 50 cents in his electronic lunch account.

Stacey Auth said her son forgot the $15 he was supposed to put in his lunch account and as a result had just 50 cents one day two weeks ago when he went through the line at O’Block Junior High School.

Because he had touched the lunch, it could not be taken back for another student and was thrown in the trash.

“They took a tray from my son,” Mrs. Auth said. “To take that tray and throw it away makes no sense.” She said she did not get a phone call that day to provide lunch money or a lunch for her son. The accounts for her other two children had sufficient funds.

The cafeteria worker was following a district policy that calls for students in grades 7-12 to be refused lunches after April 15 if there are not sufficient funds in their accounts. Elementary students are offered either a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or cheese sandwich if they don’t have lunch money.

Director of food service Maryann Lazarro said the policy was put into effect two years ago to force students and parents to get lunch accounts out of arrears before the end of the school year.

Board members said they want a new policy drafted and more leniency toward students for the remainder of the school year. Superintendent Tim Glasspool said he would bring a proposed revised policy to the board in June.

School directors at the food service committee meeting Tuesday seemed surprised to hear that lunches were being withheld and taken away from students.

“It’s not appropriate for a child not to have a lunch. Nor does it make sense to throw a lunch away,” said school director Michelle Stepnick.