According to news reports, last week food service worker Dalene Bowden was placed on leave after giving a free lunch to a hungry 12-year old student with no money. Reportedly, students are given an $11 charge limit, after which they are still provided something to eat like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but not any of the main entrees or other regular food items. Parents are notified when the $11 limit is reached.
Obviously Dalene failed to follow policy, but I don't think it's right to put a minimum wage lunch lady on the front lines of taking a student's tray away and dumping it (school policy, according to Dalene). If reports are accurate, who could look at the senselessness of the policy (the food is going to be thrown away anyway) and deny a hungry student that food. Not me, and not most people I would reckon.
I hope the school reinstates Dalene and changes their policy. Let an administrator deal with lunch charge balances greater than $11 - don't make it the lunch lady's responsibility.
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--Percy