District to stand by new lunch policy
Willingboro's schools superintendent issued a notice Monday that the district was sticking by a controversial new policy of no longer providing so-called humanitarian meals to children with insufficient funds in their lunch accounts.
Willingboro's schools superintendent issued a notice Monday that the district was sticking by a controversial new policy of no longer providing so-called humanitarian meals to children with insufficient funds in their lunch accounts.
Parents and elected officials have voiced concern about the policy, which calls for food service staff to throw out a child's lunch selection if he or she gets to the end of the service line and does not have the required funds. State health regulations prohibit re-serving food, according to the district. The policy will not affect children who have been approved for free or reduced-cost lunches.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, Superintendent Ronald G. Taylor said the new policy is not meant to demean children or parents, but hold parents more accountable and reduce the burden on taxpayers. The district spent over $46,000 in fiscal year 2013 on humanitarian meals and over $32,000 in 2012.
Taylor said the district is committed to improving communication with parents to ensure adequate account balances and also to increase enrollment in the free and reduced lunch program.
Assemblymen Herb Conaway and Troy Singleton (D., Burlington) urged the district to work with families so children don't go hungry, including reaching out to families who may qualify for subsidized meals but have not enrolled in the program. They also suggested checking a child's account first, rather than embarrassing the child and wasting food.
"Priority number one is, students get the nutrition they need to succeed in school," Conaway said. - Rita Giordano