Who knew a cheese sandwich was embarrassing? My poor children have been suffering with these for years....

There is nothing wrong with a cheese sandwich but the main point is...Accountability People! What are we teaching our children today? Years ago I served on a school board in another state. If you didn't pay, you didn't eat. My kids didn't go hungry many days. They let me know! Who said you need a hot lunch? Who said the State owes you a free lunch? I think a free cheese sandwich, fruit and milk is very generous and if your child is embarrassed, shame on you!

the one's complaining must be part of OWS. they feel that they are owed every thing.

Way to go, School Committee!

We have always had accountability issues whenever dealing with "prepaying" for hot lunch. Even the milk money! There was always some sort of money mixup. So we never use it. I have low confidence in the system and would not want my money in their hands for them to manage it. So whenever one of our kids wants an occasional hot lunch, we just pay that day.

I've never had a problem with lunch accounts. Nutrakids allows you to sign up for email notifications when the account goes under a certain amount (I choose to get an email when it is under $5.50 so I have 2 days to send in more money). It is also very easy to check the Nutrakids website and see what your child has purchased. They list all purchases by time and date.

I can see all of your points. Yet I have also seen this policy in action. The cheese sandwich should not be a punishment. We do not give those who get free and reduced hot lunch cheese sandwiches why would we give a child with a shortage a cheese sandwich? The student is still charged their lunch account for a full lunch even if they get the cheese sandwich. So why are we doing it? To embarrass kids into getting their parents to pay the bill! Imagine a first grader who may forget to tell mom to put money in his/her account. Maybe he/she doesn't have everything everyone else has but his/her parents get by. They work two jobs and see their child for two hours every week night. His sneakers aren't the newest/coolest but the child has them and they fit. Now its time for lunch and the lunch lady tells the child he/she has to have a cheese sandwich because his/her account is low. Not only does the lunch lady tell him/her but the other kids in line snicker maybe they even say he has the "cheese touch". He goes back to the table and the next day he/she doesn't even get in line! What is so hard about sending a note home when they are short 1 lunch?
I think this is very upsetting because I have seen it happen in other schools with other kids and can only imagine it happening to our kids!

The fact that the account ends up charged for a full meal but the kid only get a cheese sandwich is wrong. Additionally, no one is asking for a "free lunch" here. I think what the parents at the meeting are looking for is greater sensitivity (yes Ms Larkin) when determining how to feed the kids who have a zero balance. If I forget to add money to my kids account, and yes I have a low balance reminder set but still manage to forget - and my kid is given a cheese sandwich, I trust that it is done so with descretion. And, I damn well better now be charged for a full hot lunch. Was there any discussion about the interest on our deposits that Aramark skims? (or does the school dept get a cut of that as well?)

I don't see what the problem is here, either. According to Betsy, a child can get two lunches for $5.50 so I assume a prepared school lunch costs around $2.75. The Ch 12 report indicated that many parents have balances in the hundreds of dollars, which amounts to more than 36 unpaid lunches. You mean to tell me that your child has been feasting on school lunch over a two month period and you haven't "managed to remember" to pay your bill, and now you are angry the school is taking action? C'mon man!

As far as being charged for the cheese sandwich, fresh fruit, and milk, I see it as the school writing the delinquent parent accounts off as a bad debt and still taking care of the child with necessary nutrition. They can't refuse service, but if your account is -$100 or more in the red, you will receive the basic lunch. And why should that be free? If you went to Chelo's 36 times and walked out without paying the check every time, do you think they would continue to serve you in the future?

Take some personal responsibility and pay the bill! All this whining that it's a cheese sandwich and not the full hot lunch school dining experience is a bunch of baloney.

Shame !! 1st The Christmas Tree NOW SCROOGES, GRINCH'S & OGRES ! BAH HUM BUG !! What A Christmas Present ! Coal In Your stockings EG School Committee !
OK Lets send all the 50% fed'l funds received for lunches and the free commodity foods provided to schools oh and don't forget strange as this may sound the school system receives medicaid funds so give it all back !
Not too mention consumer law under AG states no bill collector can harass,embarrass or violate the privacy of debtor ! LITIGATION just born here in POOOORRR EG ! Oh WOW I know this will be viral and on many talks shows, hang your heads !

It's like a credit card ?? Hm just charge them one price for 5 things that's it school won't make extra $$ on kids !
There was a town yrs ago that really took very good care of the children! Rather than stating someone was over extended or on free lunches the Principal/committee decided not to charge anyone parents/public could mail donations in ! That by the wasn't a wealthy community !
I know the community and I am horrified what in God's name is wrong with all of you.
Now you know who I am writing this and for accountability now I must check each of you out for past and present debts owed because that's only fair. Here I go and I'll be back !
Just give them a months worth of tickets one for ea lunch cash for anything over !

Look at the present under pictures for school committee ! They won't be getting my vote again ! Very Disappointed in them !
Read how much fed'l gov gives lunch program Do the math see what they charge and make ?

http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err61/err61.pdf

http://www.ehow.com/list_6516743_food-grants-schools.html

http://fnic.nal.usda.gov/nal_display/index.php?info_center=4&tax_level=3&tax_subject=358&topic_id=1610&level3_id=5940&level4_id=0&level5_id=0&placement_default=0

Oh please. Do those of you opposed to this really think the kids are shamed and humiliated? Are they made to sit at the cheese sandwich table wearing a cheesehead hat? They have had two meals already without proper funds, and are told in each instance that they are out of money on their card.

Watch how well this system works when little Johnny - I guarantee you - comes home and tells mom he had to have a cheese sandwich and not the pizza he wanted. I'm gonna guess funds are gonna make their way onto the card pronto.

This isn't about those on assistance getting the shaft, it's about the forgetful - and sometimes lazy - parents paying attention. I have been guilty of seeing a zero balance on my child's card, and I then spend the 2 minutes it takes to put funds on it.

Nancy : Oh what the heck put the buggers in the work house ! Make sure Sommer's pays them ! Oh oh not again ! Child labor laws ! DL&T

I honestly don't see what the problem is here. When I "forget" to reload my child's account, I get a note reminding me that the account is insufficient. My children are allowed to purchase their lunch on credit b/c my bill is always within a reasonable amount (less than $10 owed) and not in the "hundreds." Personally, I would be grateful if my child was given a cheese sandwich in light of my oversight.

Hey Spring Street - I think you need to bring it down a notch - or five.

I think the point is being missed. It’s not the cheese sandwich. You could be giving a steak and cheese sandwich. The point is that the school committee is punishing the children for the sins of the parents and of the school lunch system. I find that unnecessary. If the system worked better we would all be notified ahead of time, but I can assure you that is not the case. I know for a fact that notices do not go out consistently and that students have been charged for meals that they have not purchased. As parents get used to using the Nutrikids system, hopefully this will no longer be an issue. It means, however, that the schools need to fully inform parents how the system works and to do so regularly. It can be as simple as adding the information to the monthly newsletter or sending out a periodic system-wide email. Most parents are not trying to get a free meal for their children. They do not feel “owed.” They are just busy. So really this goes back to why would you punish the 5-, 6-, 7-year olds for the parents’ mistakes. There has to be a better way.

JL - I think you are misunderstanding - you and I are seeing eye to eye...

one click from the EG Schools homepage:

http://egsd.net/parents.cfm?subpage=692738

No more school lunches, everyone bring a brown bag. proplem solved.
Some kids do not like cheese. Some kids cannot have dairy, is it processed cheese?

As a person who is lactose-intolerant. I was going to ask the same question as Em. Having been in elementary school not THAT long ago, if the "cheese sandwich stigma" does catch on to the point where kids see it that way, then yes, kids will absolutely make fun of someone for being stuck with the cold cheese sandwich. Sad but true. Some kids get made fun of for much less than that. I don't disagree with the principle behind it, but at least heat the damn thing so it can just be called a grilled cheese!

It's not about the "cheese." It's about the degradation of of human dignity. Perhaps you folks need to revisit the Zen of Dr. Seuss? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sneetches_and_Other_Stories

This issue is growing to ridiculous proportions. When I was in elementary school, which was much more recently than the rest of you, if you forgot to bring money or ran out on your card, you got a peanut butter & jelly sandwich. With peanut allergies being so rampant these days, I guess cheese is the new punishment. I think it's absolutely important to teach children that a charge card is not endless. Think of how many college kids are in debt because they got a credit card and didn't know what they were getting in to. Either way, parents need to step up to the plate. We have so many technological advances now that should make this easier, not harder. Program your smartphone to remind you, put a note on your Google calendar, check your bank account online to see if a payment has been made, etc. Whatever it takes to get it done!

How about linking the NutriKids account to a credit card or bank account? When the balance hits a specified amount, a (pre-decided upon) amount of money will be loaded into the child's account.

with all the press this is getting there should no excuse for parents "forgetting" to load their child card. Our children learn by example,,come on folks teach your kids responsibility

I have absolutely no problem with this. Anyone who finds it to be humiliating or a punishment is really not thinking this through. Has anyone considered how many kids pocket their parents cash and take lunch just bc they can? Further, 100s of dollars owed is not need (we have gov programs for need) its greed. Its an attitude of "why pay if I don't have to?" That is not a lesson to let these kids learn... parents who feel entitled, kids who feel entitled. It has to stop. These parents are purposefully abusing the system.

BTW, when I was in school, I did not get free lunch.. I got no lunch. My dad gave me the money for milk only. No body cared or noticed me NOT eating... and this was in the 1980s in EGHS!!! I would have been very grateful for a cheese sandwich... and I never felt entitled to get in line for a hot lunch even though I KNEW I could lie to the lunch lady and say "I forgot" my money day after day. So today's culture encourages kids to get their lunch "on credit" and never pay the bill? That is NOT THE REAL WORLD... and it is a BAD thing to teach this generation. SInce this is America, we wont let anyone go hungry... but come on... there is seriously nothing wrong with a FREE cheese sandwich.

What I find am

What I find amazing is that no one seems to have read the policy. Kids with negative balance continue to order and recieve three regular meals but are warned to fix their negative balance, on the fourth try to charge their acount with a negative balance they can only order a cheese sandwich. This seems more than reasonable. Also, how can parents blame the school for not notifying them. You put $20 on the account in the beginning of the year; and it is now a month later and you never sent your kid to school with a lunch? What do you think your kids has been doing at lunch time? You would never send your kid on a trip without adequate money or plan to make sure they get meals? I tihnk the school Department is teacihng kids fiscal responsability; something some parents seem to have forgotten but feel entitled.

Now this is Aramark's fault?? They are a private company that was hired to do a job and provide a service. Are they supposed to provide these services for free and not supposed to make a profit? They were hired by the school system and many other school systems nationwide to handle the lunch program. They are a much more cost effective solution than having the EG school dept handle it themselves. There would be unions formed and the cost of the school lunch would go from $2/day to $6/day... This is very simple.. TALK TO YOUR KIDS... "hey skippy how was your day?"" "not good mom/dad, I tried ordering lunch today but you havent paid the bill in awhile so I was given a cheese sango"... "Can you please give me some more money so I can go back to ordering pizza, burgers,?" "I am sorry skippy, I didnt realize that you were out of money. Let me get my wallet!!" Is this that hard of a concept to grasp???? This is not rocket science!!

I use Nutrikids online. I have never received notification that I am close to running out of money. I never get notices from the school when I am below zero. My 7th grader might remember to tell me the first day. Cheese sandwich seems like an outdated, silly notification to me. Nutrikids has no problem holding onto my $100 prepayment or charging a $1.75 "convenience charge." I just logged in to Nutrikids and looked around. There is a setting that you can change to send you an alert via email when you reach a dollar amount balance that you choose. Who knew? A little communication would have prevented this embarrassment to our community. There are other ways to teach children the value of money. EG isn't the only district that uses Aramark. Other districts notify the parent in writing, not the 6 year old at the lunch counter verbally, that they have 3 lunches left. How this ever got to a school committee policy is beyond me. There are more pressing issues in education these days that are far more worthy of the school committee's time and energy.

Well said, Sue W. I agree on all fronts.

Let the schools worry about teaching the kids and not feeding them. Parents and kids can brown bag it from home. this way teh parents know what is in there lunch and if they have food or not going out the door. But what about all those kids on free and reduced lunch programs. They are getting aid via other systems increase that a bit. Also it is more economically to bring from home then pay for the school cafeteria lunch.

Kids come to school with no food on a regular basis I think we have a state department for that DCYF.

Where is the hard data to support the policy? Reports for the past 1, 3 and 5 years indicating that "overdrawn" accounts is as big a problem as the school board suggests it is. What are the trends? Same school(s) losing money, same families overdrawn? If so, are there other interventions necessary for these schools and families, ie: free lunch policy notifications going out? Is there a written notification policy in place? Because if there is, it is not executed by anyone with any consistency anywhere in the district. Ie: Who is responsible for communicating a zero or negative balance back to the parents? Aramark, the school, the school dept? And when? Who is responsible for collections of past due accounts? Aramark, the school, the school department? What about the dollars not collected? Is that a school department write off? Is money in fact being lost and if so, how much? Is that loss coming out of the school budget? If so, why doesn’t the vendor have some responsibility for the loss or do they only profit from school lunches? As previously posted, what if a child is lactose intolerant? Is the school board prepared with an alternative to cheese for these children? I'm hoping to go to the school board meeting next week to ask some of this of them. Suggest more people show up to see what's really going on.

Whine & Cheese,

You should care what wasn't covered in the past- that's why there is a deficit. Those overdrawn aren't getting a free lunch. The school dept has a responsibility to educate families as to their new systems of collecting lunch money. I'd prefer to send cash everyday. It's no longer feasible to do that. I pay an extra $1.75 per transaction to help the school dept. not have to pay someone to count lunch money. I think that's enough to expect a notification or an education as to how to set up email notification prior to this ludicrous policy. The new system created the problems, not the parents. A simple email informing parents how to set up a notification would have solved this problem. Other districts using the same lunch program send home notices and are far more proactive in settling accounts prior to making a media circus of their mistakes. The bed time notice jab just invalidates anything you have to say. Do your homework. Get to the root of the problem and offer a reasonable suggestion that puts this fiasco to bed and allows our school system to focus on student learning.

I just received a notification that my son is negative $2.75. I have my notification set to let me know when he drops below $10, and yet my first notice is that he is negative. If we are going to hand out cheese sandwiches (which I doubt he would even eat), then we'd better make sure the reporting system works as advertised.