Overview:
Starting on Feb. 2, students in Decatur City Schools who carry negative balances for unpaid meal charges will be served cheese sandwiches and milk instead of the scheduled meal.
Starting on Feb. 2, students in Decatur City Schools who carry negative balances for unpaid meal charges will be served cheese sandwiches and milk instead of the scheduled meal.
According to a school nutrition webinar hosted by Decatur City Schools, the balance of unpaid meal balances in the district is roughly $88,000. The outstanding negative balances come from 46% ($41,000) of students who pay for lunch, 36% ($31,000) come from students who receive free/reduced lunch, 6% ($5,000) from staff and 12% ($11,000) from students who are no longer in the district.
During COVID, the federal government provided a waiver that provided a free lunch for public school students who have been getting free meals that ended this school year.
Decatur City Schools Superintendent Dr. Ghyimah Whittaker spoke about the district’s commitment to be fiscally sound while showing empathy to students.
“I want you to know there is empathy and then there is lived experience, and I actually have both of them. I have told you often I am originally from West Philadelphia — and yes most people say born and raised — but also I can raise my hand and say I have the lived experience of a true block of cheese,” she said. “I have the lived experience of food stamps — not a EBT card or a WIC card that looks like a credit card. I know what it’s like to go into a grocery store and only shop from the aisles with the black and white labels. So rest assured, I will do all that I can to make sure all means all for every student in our district. We will be innovative, but we also have to be fiscally sound. “
Starting on February 2, elementary and middle school students who are full pay will have a maximum of three charged meals for the entire school year before they are given an alternative meal of cheese sandwiches and milk. According to Karen Newton, the Deputy Superintendent, students who are on free/reduced lunch will be able to still eat regardless of a possible balance.
Local parent Jasmine Crow-Houston, CEO of Goodr, started a GoFundMe focused on eliminating the debt. On Twitter, Crow-Houston voiced her concerns.
“I’ve launched a #GoFundMe to eliminate unpaid meal balances for kids at Decatur City Schools. No child should face embarrassment over a meal. Lets ensure every child enjoys lunch with dignity.”
The Decatur City Schools compared their practice to other districts during the webinar. Data from other metro school districts showed that their meal charge procedures varied. Currently, Atlanta Public Schools and Rockdale Public Schools have no limit listed. Clayton County Schools offers free meals to all students, while Marietta City Schools allows one meal to be charged. While other districts have procedures that range from a set amount to number of days.
Currently, the DCS Nutrition Department revenue sources include 55% ($1,651,078) from local meal charges, 3% ($98,060) from state revenue, and 42% ($1,264,260) from the federal government.