BY KARISSA MILLER
The Iredell-Statesville Schools Board of Education approved changes to the district’s meal policies on Monday.
The updated policy will eliminate a provision that students who have unpaid charges on their account be served an “alternative” meal. All students will receive the same meal regardless of their ability to pay under the revised policy.
“All students will be treated with dignity in the serving line regardless of their ability to pay for meals. No student will be denied a meal because of financial circumstances beyond their control,” the policy states.
However, students with a negative account balance will not be allowed to purchase or charge prewrapped or packaged items, including water, chips, ice cream and cookies.
The School Nutrition Program operates as an enterprise fund supporting the total education of each student through provision of nutritional meals. The program goals are to serve nutritious and affordable meals to all students at a minimum cost.
Students who are required to pay for meals are expected to provide payment in a timely fashion.
Payments can be made on line at https://www.k12.paymentcenter.com. Payments also can be made
in all cafeterias.
During the Committee of the Whole meeting last week, Superintendent Jeff James told the board that children cannot learn and focus when they are hungry. He said it’s important to make sure students’ needs are being met and remember that there are many families struggling financially.
The updated policy will be available for feedback on the district’s website at https://www.issnc.org.
CAN the PTO perhaps have families that are willing and able and want to donate to some kids who don’t have the funds… Therefore with these donations no kid go without anything they might want in the lunch line… This is from a struggling parent herself.. Who would be willing to chip in for anyone less fortunate?
I do remember working before school and during lunch at Statesville High School in the cafeteria doing whatever the staff needed me to do. I did this in exchange for meals. What a concept.
I support this policy change wholeheartedly; however, there may be another issue not said. Parents who cannot afford to pay for school lunches can sign up for the federally funded free lunch program. The schools encourage and facilitate this. No need for PTOs to raise these funds. However, I am aware that, in the the past, there are many instances in which struggling parents refuse to sign the assistance request because they are too proud. There have also many been instances of parents who can afford to pay just not sending money to the school and running up huge unpaid debts. All of that said, no child should ever go hungry because their parents are too proud or too sorry. I just wanted to point out that true need is not the problem. Human frailty is.