Worker suspended after Mass. students are denied lunch because they were behind in pay

[UnrepentantLiberal]

Source: AP

ATTLEBORO, Massachusetts —School officials say as many as 25 students at a Massachusetts school were denied lunch this week because they either could not pay or their pre-paid accounts did not contain enough money.

Outraged parents say some students at Coelho Middle School in Attleboro cried when they were told by a worker they could not eat on Tuesday.

Superintendent Pia Durkin tells The Sun Chronicle that a worker for the contractor that provides lunch service at city schools has been suspended. She has also scheduled a meeting with officials at the company, Whitson's.

Meanwhile, workers have been told not to deny any child a meal.

Read more: http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/eaa4772cd7074122aa49ec3357d00aee/US--Lunch-Denied

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. "the contractor that provides lunch service"

Am I confused, or did the schools themselves used to provide the lunches and staff?
When did contractors take over?

[NBachers]

6. That's the first thing that jumped into my mind when I read that statement.

You see, the school had nothing to do with this and has no responsibility for anythng - it was a rogue contractor.

Fire the damn contractor and put people from the community to work in the school's own cafeteria.

"Corporations hurt people, my friend"

[KansDem]

8. It used to be that way...

...but not so much anymore.

It seems that contracting school services is becoming "big business."

The school district where my kids went/are going to school is slated to contract out its school-crossing guards. It used to be the two crossing guards where my kids attended elementary school lived on the same street as the school. They only needed to walk a few houses to "go to work." They also knew the families and the children they protected. I believe the school district (or police department?) employed them.

Now, with a third party, that sense of community we enjoyed could be lost if the crossing guard lives across town.

[appleannie1]

9. The joys of privatization.

[Javaman]

13. exactly.

the joys of corporate deniability in their race to make sure their accounting balances match at the cost of a hungry child.

this is our future.

[magical thyme]

16. since we the people don't want privitization, the 1% are doing it a bit at a time.

And this is the predictable result. Guaranteed profits before children.

[LeftofObama]

2. Suspended my a$$! The worker should be fired!

Who the hell denies a child food!?

[SteveG]

3. I suspect the worker had his/her orders from the boss

I would not blame the worker, but the policies of the contractor.

[rhett o rick]

11. The worker will get fired and the contractor, who is most likely

scraping of a bundle will keep the contract.

[valerief]

20. That's how Merka rolls nowadays. nt

[Brigid]

22. Recently, a DUer wrote about a job interview . . .

they just had. They said that the HR person asked them if they would ever do anything that they knew was against company policy. Guess what kind of answer the HR person was looking for. Blind obedience, not common sense or compassion, are the order of the day.

[Evasporque]

4. Burger King owned by Republican who got the contract from a republican school board....nt

[John2]

5. Why take it

out on the worker when it was the contractor or her employer making the policies? Evidently, she was just doing her job and following instructions. The complaints should also be directed at the Politicians. They rather make weapons and wars than feed children.

[LeftofObama]

10. Why take it out on the worker?

Here's why...

That worker no doubt sees how much food is thrown away at the end of each shift. Knowing that some of the food is going to be disposed of, the worker could just as easily give the kid a smaller portion than he/she normally does and look the other way when it comes time to pay. It's a kid for crying out loud! WTF is this world coming to when we are so afraid of our jobs that we start denying food to children?

[rhett o rick]

12. The worker is most likely working for min wage and needs to eat themselves.

Why would you fault the worker over the corporation policy?

[LeftofObama]

14. Seriously?

That worker's $7-8/hour is more important than putting food in a kid's mouth? Seriously?

"Go starve you snot nosed little brat! You're not worth me losing my $64 today!"

[rhett o rick]

15. The worker was most likely told that their

job was to feed those that paid. Just like at Burger King. How long would a Burger King employee survive if they gave out free food.

I bet the contractor has rules that say dont feed those that dont pay. I bet the school's contract with the contractor doesnt include feeding those that cant pay.

Your insistence on blaming the lowest worker in lieu of the contractor and/or school district is strange for someone claiming to be "left".

Another thing, I bet the worker is making closer to $20 a day and has to worry about feeding his/her own children.

[A Simple Game]

24. You don't seem to understand how the world works. And what if

the worker had children of their own to feed?

[alp227]

27. This situation is a fight for crumbs.

Let a kid (whose family is probably struggling) eat and not starve during school at the risk of not being able to fed your own family.

[awoke_in_2003]

18. why?...

because taking it out on the little guy is an American tradition. Dog bless this pathetic country.

[magical thyme]

17. the worker probably would have been fired for giving away food.

This way, the worker will be "suspended" and then quietly re-assigned to another school.

The worker has to eat and pay bills too. Probably doesn't not appreciate being shoved between a rock and a hard place, and probably is paid a pittance.

[Gormy Cuss]

7. Good for the superintendent. n/t

[Sunlei]

19. that's a huge company wonder how many kids across America stay silent and hungry.

We taxpayers probably still pay for the meal they trash.

http://www.whitsons.com/index.php/whitsons-values

[Ian David]

21. They have the address for the kid's parents, and all year to collect. They get paid eventually.

Even if the parent is in arrears all summer, they have until next September to get caught-up.

Parents who are behind get bills in the mail, emails, and phone calls reminding them to pay.

[RILib]

23. School districts contract jobs out

because the contractors pay workers lower wages and no benefits. If the employees work for the school district directly, they probably have union protection.

I'm sure the employee had been told, no money, no lunch and would have likely lost her job for giving the kids lunch. I hope that policy was in writing and she saved a copy.

[Bandit]

25. Meanwhile, workers have been told not to deny any child a meal.

I guess its free food for every child now? If parents need some assistance so their child can eat a hot meal at school so be it, but why should those that do pay for their meal feel they are being forced to pay when others do not....Establish a fund to provide aid, but don't just give the meals away in front of all those that have to pay.....just my $.02 worth

[Jennicut]

26. The parents will be sent home a bill of what they owe, most likely.

My daughter took hot lunch one day when she forgot her lunch at home and I was working. The school simply sent me a bill home of what I owed and I sent the money in with my daughter the next day. To be honest, having parents pay for school lunches is probably easy in wealthier areas and difficult in poorer areas. Not every school district has the funds to provide assistance. It's one more thing I would federalize and put money towards If I was in total control of Congress and the Presidency but that's just me. I work as a sub teacher and some kids do without snacks or meals at times. I have seen some pretty sad things.