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Utah school district apologises after meals taken away from pupils Utah school district apologises after meals taken away from pupils
(7 months later)
A school district in Utah has been forced to apologize to angry parents after an official ordered cafeteria workers at an elementary school to take meals from children who had outstanding balances on their lunch accounts.A school district in Utah has been forced to apologize to angry parents after an official ordered cafeteria workers at an elementary school to take meals from children who had outstanding balances on their lunch accounts.
It was only after students at Salt Lake City’s Uintah elementary had picked up their lunches on Tuesday that cafeteria staff were able to see which of them owed money. Up to 40 had their food trays removed and thrown away because workers are not allowed to serve the food to anyone else. The students were given fruit and milk instead.It was only after students at Salt Lake City’s Uintah elementary had picked up their lunches on Tuesday that cafeteria staff were able to see which of them owed money. Up to 40 had their food trays removed and thrown away because workers are not allowed to serve the food to anyone else. The students were given fruit and milk instead.
"This situation could have and should have been handled in a different manner," the district said in a statement. "We apologize.""This situation could have and should have been handled in a different manner," the district said in a statement. "We apologize."
“It was pretty traumatic and humiliating," a parent, Erica Lukes, told the Salt Lake City Tribune. She said she had thought her 11-year-old daughter’s account was up to date. "I think it’s despicable. These are young children that shouldn’t be punished or humiliated for something the parents obviously need to clear up." “It was pretty traumatic and humiliating," a parent, Erica Lukes, told the Salt Lake City Tribune. She said she had thought her 11-year-old daughter’s account was up to date. "I think it’s despicable. These are young children that shouldn’t be punished or humiliated for something the parents obviously need to clear up."
The Salt Lake City school district sent a child-nutrition manager to the school on Monday, because a “large number” of students either owed the school money or did not have money left in their accounts.The Salt Lake City school district sent a child-nutrition manager to the school on Monday, because a “large number” of students either owed the school money or did not have money left in their accounts.
Two school officials called parents of students with the outstanding balances to tell them about the disparity, but failed to reach all of them before Tuesday lunchtime. District officials said policies were in place to alert parents about the amount of money left in their account and that they were investigating whether Uintah elementary followed the notification procedures.Two school officials called parents of students with the outstanding balances to tell them about the disparity, but failed to reach all of them before Tuesday lunchtime. District officials said policies were in place to alert parents about the amount of money left in their account and that they were investigating whether Uintah elementary followed the notification procedures.
"We understand the feelings of upset parents and students who say this was an embarrassing and humiliating situation," the district said. "We again apologize and commit to working with parents in rectifying this situation and to ensuring students are never treated in this manner again.""We understand the feelings of upset parents and students who say this was an embarrassing and humiliating situation," the district said. "We again apologize and commit to working with parents in rectifying this situation and to ensuring students are never treated in this manner again."
This is not the first time a US school has given students a meal and then taken it away; similar incidents were reported in two states last year.This is not the first time a US school has given students a meal and then taken it away; similar incidents were reported in two states last year.
In April, up to 25 students who did not have enough money to pay for lunch at a middle school in Massachusetts were either denied meals or watched as their meals were thrown away. School administrators said a representative of the school system’s lunch provider, Whitson’s, gave the order to cafeteria workers without alerting the principal. The school apologized and ordered workers to not refuse lunch to students.In April, up to 25 students who did not have enough money to pay for lunch at a middle school in Massachusetts were either denied meals or watched as their meals were thrown away. School administrators said a representative of the school system’s lunch provider, Whitson’s, gave the order to cafeteria workers without alerting the principal. The school apologized and ordered workers to not refuse lunch to students.
In March 2013, a high school in Missouri took lunches away from students who could not pay for their meals. The school apologized for the incident and said it was the result of a “miscommunication”.In March 2013, a high school in Missouri took lunches away from students who could not pay for their meals. The school apologized for the incident and said it was the result of a “miscommunication”.