PA school lunch debt furor ends with an apology (free lunch for all)

[left-of-center2012]

The Wyoming Valley West School District issued an online apology Wednesday for sending letters to parents earlier this month that threatened to put children in foster care if lunch money debts were not paid. Not only did the school board sincerely apologize "for the tone of the letter," it also decided to accept the "generous offer" of a benefactor who offered to pay the school lunch debts, the apology note stated.

At the same time, the school district announced that it now qualifies for the Community Eligibility Provision, a USDA Food and Nutrition Service program

"As a result, all students of the Wyoming Valley West School District will receive free breakfast and lunch in all of our schools for the next five years regardless of income," according to the Wyoming Valley West School Board. The program "allows the nation's highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications," according to the agency's website.

The apology note not only announced the acceptance of Carmichael's donation but also addressed some of the misconceptions that followed the original threatening letter: "No student was ever denied a meal for lack of payment... No shaming occurred and no alternate meals were provided."

All federal and state regulations were followed, the school board stated: "It wasn't the intention of the district to harm or inconvenience any of the families of our school district."

https://www.cnn.com/2019/07/25/us/pennsylvania-lunch-debt-furor-apology/index.html

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. And that is about time!

What a mess over something that could have been, if not avoided, but at least less contentious.

And now the kids can eat and learn better!

[MineralMan]

2. So, that school's stupidity backfired on them, didn't it?

They had no idea what they were in for with those threats. I'd think that school board will be replaced by the voters in due time.

[BigmanPigman]

6. Bingo!

[lpbk2713]

3. Good news.

And whoever sent out the letter is probably pissed.

[Baltimike]

4. Vote. Them. Out. This never should have happened in the first place. nt

[CatMor]

5. It is outrageous the school threatened...

to put children in foster care over unpaid lunch bills. Who was evil enough to cone up with that.

[DeminPennswoods]

7. The school board president has a challenger in Nov

Joseph Mazur, the 77 yr old school board president, will have a challenger, Tiffany Brunson, in November's general election. Back in the May primary, both candidates cross-filed as Dems and Republicans (you can do that in PA). Mazur won the Dem nomination, but Brunson edged him out for the Republican nomination.

Mazur might have coasted to re-election, but we'll see what voters think in Novemeber.

All the other WVW school board seats up for election are uncontested.