Lunch money

24 July 2019, 11:35 AM

wtg

Lunch money

Head scratcher.

quote:
A public school district in Pennsylvania that faced a national outcry after threatening to place children in foster care over unpaid cafeteria debt has received several offers to pay off the entire delinquent meal tab, but school officials do not seem interested.

In a letter sent on July 9 to about 40 parents in the Wyoming Valley West School District in an effort to collect the debt, officials warned that if it went unpaid, "The result may be your child being taken from your home and placed in foster care."

According to Luzerne County Manager David Pedri, at least five donors have stepped forward willing to satisfy the $22,000 in debt accrued by dozens of students whose parents did not give them money to pay for the meals.

A prominent media figure is among those who has tried to settle the students' debt. An assistant to this person, who requested anonymity, told NPR that attempts to reach school officials were unsuccessful.

"These are gracious and kindhearted people, and I have forwarded their information over to the Wyoming Valley West School District for their review," Pedri said.

https://www.npr.org/2019/07/24...icials-not-intereste

24 July 2019, 11:59 AM

QuirtEvans

I am curious about something, and I haven't seen anything in any of the stories I've read about it.

Is the failure to pay a bill for lunches a sufficient basis to justify taking a child from the home and placing that child in foster care? Failure to pay may be indicative of a concern about parenting. But I wouldn't imagine that failure to pay is sufficient, in and of itself, to justify removing a child from the home. Perhaps it is, but that would be ... unusual.

So, my view of the school district's action is this: it's blackmail. Blackmail to secure payment of a legitimate bill, but blackmail nonetheless, because I don't think the threatened action could reasonably be taken.

But perhaps I'm wrong. If so, I hope someone will link it.

24 July 2019, 12:22 PM

wtg

Here's what the school's letter said:

quote:
In one letter shared on social media and obtained by NBC affiliate WBRE, the parents are informed that their child has a balance of $75.25 and if they do not pay it, the parents could be reported to Luzerne County dependency court.

"Your child has been sent to school every day without money and without breakfast and/or lunch. This is a failure to provide your child with proper nutrition and you can be sent to Dependency Court for neglecting your child's right to food," the July 9 letter reads.

If the parent is taken to court, they risk their child being removed "and placed in foster care," according to the letter.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/u...foster-care-n1031721

24 July 2019, 08:05 PM

wtg

The school district changed its mind and will accept the donations.

https://www.npr.org/2019/07/24...ions-to-cover-lunch-

24 July 2019, 09:51 PM

ShiroKuro

quote:
The school district changed its mind and will accept the donations.

Right, now that everyone is watching.

24 July 2019, 10:02 PM

QuirtEvans

quote:
Originally posted by ShiroKuro:
quote:
The school district changed its mind and will accept the donations.

Right, now that everyone is watching.

Likely, after someone whose opinion matters called and said, "ARE YOU KIDDING?"