Hawkins County commissioners criticize schools for taking hot lunch away from student

Here's the deal, we pay taxes and I feel like lunch should be a free thing for any child. No child should ever go without a lunch. It's $2.00 for lunch. Couldn't that just be added to an account? Couldn't they just let the child have a lunch? It's pathetic. Seems like a few teachers could've pitched in some change and bought the child a lunch. I know any teacher would've if they had been alerted to the situation. I couldn't fathom being a lunch attendent and only serving the child a cheese sandwich. Just my opinion, no need to bash me and tell me how parents should be more responsible and blah,blah,blah. This is about the child going hungry, not how horrible his or her parents may have been.

now you know britton has to save money so she can give those 40% and 60% raises.

No money no lunch. Maybe if children learned this they wouldn't grow up expecting society to supply all their needs and wants. But this goes against what the moochers believe (majority in Hawkins County),who live on public assistance.

teachable moment wrote:

No money no lunch. Maybe if children learned this they wouldn't grow up expecting society to supply all their needs and wants. But this goes against what the moochers believe (majority in Hawkins County),who live on public assistance.

THANK YOU!!!

When i was a kid if i didnt hsve money, which was 9o percent of the time, i didnt eat, and nobody gave a crap, nobody wrote a newspaper article, and nobody gave me a cheeses sandwich. It taught me to be self reliant. Besides that, whats wrong with a cheese sandwich? I like cheeses sandwiches.

SGT ROCK wrote:

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THANK YOU!!!
When i was a kid if i didnt hsve money, which was 9o percent of the time, i didnt eat, and nobody gave a crap, nobody wrote a newspaper article, and nobody gave me a cheeses sandwich. It taught me to be self reliant. Besides that, whats wrong with a cheese sandwich? I like cheeses sandwiches.

you failed

Do you realize that when a child's lunch account goes into a negative balance that the cafeteria manager sends a letter home. If the account stays in the negative, multiple letters are sent home. The cafeteria manager is responsible to pay all charge accounts out of her pocket at the end of the year. So, after multiple notifications or attempts to notify the parent, the child is then served a cheese sandwich. No one starved a child. I am not saying I agree with the fact (if it is a fact) that a hot lunch was taken from the child. I do agree that there should be repercussions for actions.

Sadiebugg wrote:

Do you realize that when a child's lunch account goes into a negative balance that the cafeteria manager sends a letter home. If the account stays in the negative, multiple letters are sent home. The cafeteria manager is responsible to pay all charge accounts out of her pocket at the end of the year. So, after multiple notifications or attempts to notify the parent, the child is then served a cheese sandwich. No one starved a child. I am not saying I agree with the fact (if it is a fact) that a hot lunch was taken from the child. I do agree that there should be repercussions for actions.

Where exactly does it say that the manager pays out of pocket? Calling bs my friend. they have line budget just as the school does to operate.
I would like to know where i can find documentation that shows they are personnaly responsible.

What purpose did it serve to take a tray of food from a child because they had no money, then throw it away? The remedy for lack of funds is to waste funds? This is just ridiculous, it makes no sense.

Does Hawkins County School System profit from the meals they serve? I have heard this, but do not know if it is true.

teachable moment wrote:

No money no lunch. Maybe if children learned this they wouldn't grow up expecting society to supply all their needs and wants. But this goes against what the moochers believe (majority in Hawkins County),who live on public assistance.

I have no problem at all with all the children in the system being served free meals at school. There is such waste in this system but feeding a child to me is not wasteful and it is not welfare. A child is not an adult, they cannot control whether or not their parent gives them money to eat at school.

Taking that child's tray away in front of other children was humiliating and totally unnecessary!

We need to hol Britton to a high accountable for the action,maybe need her out

I'm doing this story today. I'm looking at the school's hot lunch protocol and how parents can be responsible for their children's accounts. I'm also trying to track down this mother and looking for the community's reaction. Is anyone available for an interview? Feel free to email me: mgorey@wcyb.com.

Acting like a True Republican.

some kids have the money and their blindsides parents refuse to see that kids prefer to spend the money on other things besides food. several cafeteria workers have paid out of pocket to feed kids of parents who do not monitor or care......so shut up and go watch what your child is doing with his/her money next school year......

Acting wrote:

Acting like a True Republican.

Ronald Reagan would have given the kids some ketchup packets.

I miss the old days when nobody cared about children and we let them fend for themselves. It made them grow up stronger.

explain wrote:

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Where exactly does it say that the manager pays out of pocket? Calling bs my friend. they have line budget just as the school does to operate.
I would like to know where i can find documentation that shows they are personnaly responsible.

Sadiebugg is right...

Not BS wrote:

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Sadiebugg is right...

And exactly where can this info be found? And where can it be found what protocol is regarding a child with no money? answers, since you are full of insight.

Really wrote:

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I have no problem at all with all the children in the system being served free meals at school. There is such waste in this system but feeding a child to me is not wasteful and it is not welfare. A child is not an adult, they cannot control whether or not their parent gives them money to eat at school.
Taking that child's tray away in front of other children was humiliating and totally unnecessary!

Cool. What is your name so I can sign you up to pay for these lunches?

I am eating a cheese sandwich right now. Explain what is wrong with them. It's modest food. No one is entitled to a free hot lunch for their children from anyone other than the parents.

The simple fact is these parents neglected their children. Child Protective Services should have been called as soon as it was clear the child was in danger because the parents were not feeding them.

It is shameful the child was allowed to go back to what is clearly substandard conditions where they are not fed.

Yes, I am correct. No BS here. I know for a fact that the cafeteria manager at Church Hill has had to pay out of her pocket the end if year charge balances for children. When a parent or caregiver can go online and check their child/children's lunch balance at any time, I feel that the parent/caregiver may be partially to blame. I also know other cafeteria managers in the system have had to do the same. Call the central office and ask what happens to the end of year charge balances and who is responsible.

Well I for one would gladly pay for that child or any other child's lunch before I would see them toss it in the trash. There is no logic to that situation. You are wasting food yet you can't give it to a child who just happens to have no money in their lunch account...give me a break...this is nonsense and all parents should be demanding answers from the school board as to why this has happened on more than one occasion. I do not believe for a second that cafeteria workers are having to pay at the end of the year for food. This isn't happening and has only been posted on here as a smoke screen.