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| New Jersey pupils with $75 lunch debt banned from prom and field trips | New Jersey pupils with $75 lunch debt banned from prom and field trips |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A US school district has banned students who have more than $75 (£58) in lunch debt from attending the prom and other extra-curricular activities. | A US school district has banned students who have more than $75 (£58) in lunch debt from attending the prom and other extra-curricular activities. |
| The school board president of Cherry Hill in New Jersey said the plan struck a "balance of compassion" while "holding people accountable". | The school board president of Cherry Hill in New Jersey said the plan struck a "balance of compassion" while "holding people accountable". |
| A businessman said he would settle the debts but the board rejected his offer. | A businessman said he would settle the debts but the board rejected his offer. |
| The prom ban was brought in after previous measures taken by the district were condemned as "lunch-shaming". | The prom ban was brought in after previous measures taken by the district were condemned as "lunch-shaming". |
| In August, Cherry Hill had announced that students behind on payments would only be given tuna sandwiches rather than a full meal. | In August, Cherry Hill had announced that students behind on payments would only be given tuna sandwiches rather than a full meal. |
| Following a public outcry, the board withdrew the policy, replacing it with the ban on indebted students taking part in extra-curricular activities. | Following a public outcry, the board withdrew the policy, replacing it with the ban on indebted students taking part in extra-curricular activities. |
| The district has 19 schools with a total of about 11,350 students, of whom about 20% are eligible for reduced-price or free meals, The Inquirer reports. | The district has 19 schools with a total of about 11,350 students, of whom about 20% are eligible for reduced-price or free meals, The Inquirer reports. |
| A meal at Cherry Hill costs $3, rising to $3.10 for high school students. | |
| Why was the donation rejected? | Why was the donation rejected? |
| Steve Ravitz, who runs a Cherry Hill supermarket chain, posted on Facebook earlier in September that he would be "happy to solve this issue". | Steve Ravitz, who runs a Cherry Hill supermarket chain, posted on Facebook earlier in September that he would be "happy to solve this issue". |
| But a later post from Mr Ravitz said: "I understand that the board has decided to NOT accept any significant donation to help with the 'lunch' issue. Strange." | But a later post from Mr Ravitz said: "I understand that the board has decided to NOT accept any significant donation to help with the 'lunch' issue. Strange." |
| Eric Goodwin, the school board president, said a one-time charitable donation would not help families address underlying problems, the Courier Post reports. | Eric Goodwin, the school board president, said a one-time charitable donation would not help families address underlying problems, the Courier Post reports. |
| "Simply erasing the debt does not address the many families with financial means who have just chosen not to pay what is owed," he told the Inquirer. | "Simply erasing the debt does not address the many families with financial means who have just chosen not to pay what is owed," he told the Inquirer. |