A New Jersey school district has recently adopted a controversial policy that allows principals to restrict student participation in school events based on lunch debt. This decision, made by the Cherry Hill school board, mandates that students who owe more than $75 for school meals may be barred from attending key activities like prom, class trips, and even purchasing yearbooks until their debts are settled.
Policy Details
The policy stipulates that if a student’s lunch debt exceeds $75, parents must meet with school officials, including the Superintendent, Business Administrator, and the Principal, to discuss repayment. This follows a previous proposal from the district that suggested serving cold tuna sandwiches to students with lunch debts over $10, a policy that garnered significant backlash. Now, although hot meals will be provided to students with outstanding balances, they will be restricted from ordering a la carte items until their debt is cleared. Parents will be contacted once the debt reaches $25 to address the issue.
Impact on Students
Cherry Hill’s student population is approximately 11,000, with over 20 percent classified as economically disadvantaged, as reported by New Jersey’s Department of Education. The enforcement of this policy rests with each school’s principal, but Superintendent Mark Johnson emphasized the importance of instilling responsibility while also showing compassion towards families facing financial challenges.
Broader Context
As the issue of school lunch debt receives increasing attention, some states have enacted laws preventing schools from refusing meals to students. However, punitive measures like those in Cherry Hill continue to surface, raising concerns about the potential for bullying and stigma among students unable to pay for their lunches. In one extreme case, a school threatened to involve child services for unpaid lunch debts.
Policy Adoption
Following a public hearing and a second reading, the school board unanimously passed the revised policy, which will affect students in the current academic year.
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Conclusion
In summary, the Cherry Hill school district’s new policy on lunch debt illustrates the ongoing struggle schools face in balancing financial responsibility with compassion for students and families.
Keyphrase: school lunch debt policy
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