ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – A cold cheese sandwich, fruit and a milk carton might not seem like much of a meal — but that's what's on the menu for students in New Mexico's largest school district without their lunch money.
Faced with mounting unpaid lunch charges in the economic downturn, Albuquerque Public Schools last month instituted a "cheese sandwich policy," serving the alternative meals to children whose parents are supposed to be able to pay for some or all of their regular meals but fail to pick up the tab.
Such policies have become a necessity for schools seeking to keep budgets in the black while ensuring children don't go hungry. School districts including those in Chula Vista, Calif.; Hillsborough County, Fla.; and Lynnwood, Wash.; have also taken to serving cheese sandwiches to children with delinquent lunch accounts.
Critics argue the cold meals are a form of punishment for children whose parents can't afford to pay. Parents who qualify for free meals are not affected.
"We've heard stories from moms coming in saying their child was pulled out of the lunch line and given a cheese sandwich," said Nancy Pope, director of the New Mexico Collaborative to End Hunger. "One woman said her daughter never wants to go back to school."
Some Albuquerque parents have tearfully pleaded with school board members to stop singling out their children because they're poor, while others have flooded talk radio shows thanking the district for imposing a policy that commands parental responsibility.
Second-grader Danessa Vigil said she will never eat sliced cheese again. She had to eat cheese sandwiches because her mother couldn't afford to give her lunch money while her application for free lunch was being processed.
"Every time I eat it, it makes me feel like I want to throw up," the 7-year-old said.
Her mother, Darlene Vigil, said there are days she can't spare lunch money for her two daughters.
"Some parents don't have even $1 sometimes," the 27-year-old single mother said. "If they do, it's for something else, like milk at home. There are some families that just don't have it and that's the reason they're not paying."
Albuquerque Public Schools students receive a cheese sandwich in lieu of a hot meal if they have exceeded a set amount of meals charged to their account, ranging from two at high schools to 10 at elementary schools. The schools' Web site warns: "Once the charging limit is met, students will be offered an alternate meal consisting of a cheese sandwich and a beverage."
The School Nutrition Association recently surveyed nutrition directors from 38 states and found more than half of school districts have seen an increase in the number of students charging meals, while 79 percent saw an increase in the number of free lunches served over the last year.
In New Mexico, nearly 204,000 low-income students — about three-fifths of public school students — received free or reduced-price lunches at the beginning of the school year, according to the state Public Education Department.
"What you are seeing is families struggling and having a really hard time, and school districts are struggling as well," said Crystal FitzSimons of the national Food Research and Action Center.
In Albuquerque, unpaid lunch charges hovered around $55,000 in 2006. That jumped to $130,000 at the end of the 2007-08 school year. It was $140,000 through the first five months of this school year.
Charges were on pace to reach $300,000 by the end of the year. Mary Swift, director of Albuquerque's food and nutrition services, said her department had no way to absorb that debt as it had in the past.
"We can't use any federal lunch program money to pay what they call bad debt. It has to come out of the general budget and of course that takes it from some other department," Swift said.
With the new policy, the school district has collected just over $50,000 from parents since the beginning of the year. It also identified 2,000 students eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunches, and more children in the lunch program means more federal dollars for the district.
School officials said the policy was under consideration for some time and parents were notified last fall. Families with unpaid charges are reminded with an automated phone call each night and notes are sent home with children once a week.
Swift added that the cheese sandwiches — about 80 of the 46,000 meals the district serves daily — can be considered a "courtesy meal," rather than an alternate meal.
Some districts, she noted, don't allow children without money to eat anything.
Albuquerque Public Schools "has historically gone above and beyond as far as treating children with dignity and respect and trying to do what's best with for the child and I think this is just another example," Swift said.
Thor Simpson
02-25-09, 02:28 PM
They at least should be able to have cake. And eat it, too!
fujishig
02-25-09, 02:38 PM
This is really old... here, found the Chula Vista article from the LA Times back in June 2007:
I remember the main "problem" was the humiliation... and that they used to give out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but that the students enjoyed them too much, and it wasn't a punishment.
For all those crying about their kids being singled out... pay up! they're lucky they get a meal at all, I guarantee the local McDonalds wouldn't stand for you just taking food without paying either.
grundle
02-25-09, 02:56 PM
This is really old... here, found the Chula Vista article from the LA Times back in June 2007:
I remember the main "problem" was the humiliation... and that they used to give out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but that the students enjoyed them too much, and it wasn't a punishment.
For all those crying about their kids being singled out... pay up! they're lucky they get a meal at all, I guarantee the local McDonalds wouldn't stand for you just taking food without paying either.
These aren't poor kids who qualify for free lunch. And depending on the circumstances, sometimes a little humiliation can be good.
Venusian
02-25-09, 02:58 PM
How does humiliating the kid help anything?
General Zod
02-25-09, 03:11 PM
School is there to teach important life lessons like this one:
There's No Such Thing As a Free Lunch
GizmoDVD
02-25-09, 03:14 PM
Maybe the parents shouldn't pop out kids they couldn't support? How dare the school serve them bread and cheese! They should be providing Sushi.
fujishig
02-25-09, 03:20 PM
How does humiliating the kid help anything?
If you read the article I posted, the schools absolutely could not get these deadbeats to pay up, even going so far as getting collection agencies involved! However, they paid up once their kids started getting cheese sandwiches.
What should they do, just keep giving out free (more expensive) food?
awil1026
02-25-09, 03:24 PM
maybe the parents shouldn't pop out kids they couldn't support? how dare the school serve them bread and cheese! They should be providing sushi.
qft.
Sean O'Hara
02-25-09, 03:32 PM
Wait, there are schools that let kids go through the lunch line and say, "Oops, I don't have any money"?
panchor
02-25-09, 03:53 PM
Maybe the parents shouldn't pop out kids they couldn't support? How dare the school serve them bread and cheese! They should be providing Sushi.
I don't think that is the problem. They are simply irresponsible people. My wife works at a school cafeteria in a nice neighborhood and there are kids that do not pay for lunches, simply because their parents forget or don't care.
The families that can't afford to buy lunches get discounts or sometimes it is free.
deadlax
02-25-09, 03:54 PM
Wow, how things have changed in twenty years. I had never seen a public school cafeteria until 7th grade. We all ate our pack lunches and liked it. If you happened to forget your lunch you were SoL. Once I saw a cafeteria it was either eat what mom packed for you or waste your own money on food.
Parents can't even be asked to make lunch for kids these days. They need to shut down these kitchens and put the onus on the parents.
fujishig
02-25-09, 03:58 PM
I don't think that is the problem. They are simply irresponsible people. My wife works at a school cafeteria in a nice neighborhood and there are kids that do not pay for lunches, simply because their parents forget or don't care.
The families that can't afford to buy lunches get discounts or sometimes it is free.
Right... one good thing about this program is that it got parents off their butts to apply for the free lunches, which are federally funded, unlike the deadbeat lunches (140,000 in the first five months of the school year!!!).
I still question why the free lunches would consist of anything other than a cheese sandwich or the equivalent of one (for the lactose intolerant or something). I'm sorry that the little 7 year old girl feels like throwing up if she has to eat a cold cheese sandwich, but she needs some perspective, it's not like pizza is a right. I have no idea how these programs work, however... just how much do these kids get for "free?" Whatever the daily lunch is, or can they pick among a variety of things?
VinVega
02-25-09, 04:13 PM
How does humiliating the kid help anything?
That's the root of the issue here, not the cheese in the sandwich. That being said, they're still getting food even though they didn't pay for it. I don't have a problem with it as long as they're not deliberately trying to embarrass the child.
Vibiana
02-25-09, 04:19 PM
Wow, how things have changed in twenty years. I had never seen a public school cafeteria until 7th grade. We all ate our pack lunches and liked it. If you happened to forget your lunch you were SoL. Once I saw a cafeteria it was either eat what mom packed for you or waste your own money on food.
Parents can't even be asked to make lunch for kids these days. They need to shut down these kitchens and put the onus on the parents.
My best friend works in a school cafeteria and has worked in them for years. So did her mother before her. I told her about this situation and she agrees with you. School lunches are the only decent food some kids get, and it's because parents are either too ignorant or too lazy to do better. Especially if you are poor, packing lunch for kids is the best way to go, but too many parents depend on the government for everything.
grundle
02-25-09, 04:29 PM
How does humiliating the kid help anything?
It will prevent him from becoming a burglar, bank robber, or CEO when he grows up.
Franchot
02-26-09, 01:13 AM
I have no idea how these programs work, however... just how much do these kids get for "free?" Whatever the daily lunch is, or can they pick among a variety of things?
Since you're in Los Angeles I'll tell you how the LAUSD handles the lunch program for its lower income students:
Students need to fill out an application for the free lunch stating the parents income and inability to afford food for their children. The school encourages ALL students (low income, higher income, whatever) to fill out these applications since the school receives additional funding if they meet the quota of lower income students. (If somehow a family has adequate income for the food, the application is often green-lighted for the free food anyway since no-one really checks too carefully.) The student is given a book of tickets for three meals a day at the school. (If a student loses or does not receive any tickets, he is still entitled to the free food since it is wrong to turn away a hungry child.)
The students are given a breakfast meal (pancakes, sausage or coffee cake or egg muffin, fruit, juice, milk, etc.)
At mid-morning they are given a nutritional "snack" (fruit, cookies, or cheese toast, or coffee cake, milk, juice, etc.)
Finally, they are given lunch (burritos or pizza or a cheeseburger or chicken burger, salad, vegetable, fruit, milk, juice, dessert, etc.)
(There are various other menu items that show up, also, but nothing too extravagant or too difficult to prepare.)
Most students toss the fruit and vegetables and anything that might be somewhat healthy into the trash and curse the food that they get, saying, "What the fuck is this shit? If it's not pizza, we don't want it!"
The newer immigrants to the country who have just entered the school system are quite happy to get whatever they can, but are soon swayed by the old-timers to join in the chant for "Pizza, pizza, pizza!" and throwing away the fruits and vegetables.
This is all on your dime, of course, Mr. Taxpayer of Los Angeles. (And, of course, multiply these three meals a day times the large number of schools in LAUSD, most of which educate low-income students and you've got a pretty hefty food bill that YOU have to pay for.)
(Oh, and they also have vending machines on campus that sell fruit juice, Gatorade, chocolate milk, and Cup-A-Soup (soda is not allowed), but the vending machines are continually being replenished each day because these lower income students just happen to have enough money for these items.)
Nick Danger
02-26-09, 06:38 AM
Coffee cake for breakfast, then more coffee cake in mid-morning, and then pizza for lunch? Vending machines selling heavily-sugared drinks? No wonder American kids are obese.
Vibiana
02-26-09, 11:22 AM
Blame it on schools who can't manage their budgets and spend for loads of carbs because they're cheap. Poverty food is always high in starch.
Some school districts have begun buying local produce, which is not necessarily as convenient or affordable, but they're in there trying, at least.
Brack
02-26-09, 11:40 AM
whatever happened to the grand tradition of beating up kids for lunch money? kids are so soft these days.
VinVega
02-26-09, 11:42 AM
whatever happened to the grand tradition of beating up kids for lunch money? kids are so soft these days.
Now the school beats them up (or at least embarrasses them into paying). ;)
orangecrush
02-26-09, 01:18 PM
Now the school beats them up (or at least embarrasses them into paying). ;)Important life lessons all around.
Vibiana
02-26-09, 01:59 PM
I googled Darlene Vigil and New Mexico. Wonder if she's the recovering crystal meth addict profiled in this story? If so, yeah, I guess she's a little short on lunch money. :lol:
Wow, the mom who's crying poormouth has her own website. Apparently she travels a lot to Reno and Las Vegas.
www.darlenevigil.com
God, I love the internet. :lol:
CRM114
03-03-09, 02:12 PM
Parents can't even be asked to make lunch for kids these days. They need to shut down these kitchens and put the onus on the parents.
We have kids who's only meals are eaten at school. "Putting the onus" on parents is not a good idea, unfortunately.
CRM114
03-03-09, 02:15 PM
My best friend works in a school cafeteria and has worked in them for years. So did her mother before her. I told her about this situation and she agrees with you. School lunches are the only decent food some kids get, and it's because parents are either too ignorant or too lazy to do better. Especially if you are poor, packing lunch for kids is the best way to go, but too many parents depend on the government for everything.
My district's reduced lunch price is 40 cents. I doubt anyone could pack a lunch for 40 cents. The full rate is $2.00. If I were strapped for cash, I'd welcome the school lunch program.
I personally pack my child's lunch because the institutional food they feed them isn't the healthiest choice.
orangecrush
03-03-09, 02:31 PM
My district's reduced lunch price is 40 cents. I doubt anyone could pack a lunch for 40 cents. The full rate is $2.00. If I were strapped for cash, I'd welcome the school lunch program.
I personally pack my child's lunch because the institutional food they feed them isn't the healthiest choice.
That is how much the reduced lunches cost when I was in elementary school. It would be hard to beat $2 even. I would imagine a lot of parents would make your choice for your reasons though.
classicman2
03-03-09, 02:55 PM
Non-reduced luncheons were 20 cents when I attended school.
You could have all the milk you wanted. None of those carboard cartons.
Superboy
03-03-09, 03:01 PM
I'll never understand why people complain so much about food.
Asian cultures have this amazing respect for Spam, because it was the only food available after WWII. It's the integral part in many dishes and is still widely eaten in pacific islander countries. In fact, pacific islander countries are the world's largest consumer of Spam.
The British wrote a musical.
Rockmjd23
03-03-09, 03:02 PM
Non-reduced luncheons were 20 cents when I attended school.
You could have all the milk you wanted. None of those carboard cartons.
How was the hardtack?
The Bus
03-03-09, 03:04 PM
Non-reduced luncheons were 20 cents when I attended school.
Egads. That's like $650 in today's money. What did you have? Foie gras? An option between grape juice and La Mothe de Margaux?
wishbone
03-03-09, 03:06 PM
The meals also included a pack of Lucky Strikes! :eek:
classicman2
03-03-09, 03:07 PM
We had cold milk out of a stainless steel milk dispenser - really cold with a real glass.
So cold it would put lead in your pencil.
The Bus
03-03-09, 03:11 PM
The meals also included a pack of Lucky Strikes! :eek:
Not in sixth grade. The Pullman Strike meant they had to do without some goods from the East.
wendersfan
03-03-09, 03:11 PM
I'll never understand why people complain so much about food. Modern supermarkets have created a situation where consumers expect any kind of food, from anywhere in the world, fresh, on demand. The other day I had lunch at this Asian place, and I had the vegetable fried rice. It came with asparagus (interesting variation), and I complained at how tough it was. Then I commented that the idea of having fresh asparagus, at all, in the Midwest, in February, was a little preposterous.
classicman2
03-03-09, 03:12 PM
Seriously - I can't recall any student in highschool who smoked. I'm sure there were some, but very few and far between.
Red Dog
03-03-09, 03:57 PM
We had cold milk out of a stainless steel milk dispenser - really cold with a real glass.
So cold it would put lead in your pencil.
I figured you just walked up to the cow outside your one-room schoolhouse and milked it yourself.
Flashback
03-03-09, 04:43 PM
Since you're in Los Angeles I'll tell you how the LAUSD handles the lunch program for its lower income students:
Students need to fill out an application for the free lunch stating the parents income and inability to afford food for their children. The school encourages ALL students (low income, higher income, whatever) to fill out these applications since the school receives additional funding if they meet the quota of lower income students. (If somehow a family has adequate income for the food, the application is often green-lighted for the free food anyway since no-one really checks too carefully.) The student is given a book of tickets for three meals a day at the school. (If a student loses or does not receive any tickets, he is still entitled to the free food since it is wrong to turn away a hungry child.)
The students are given a breakfast meal (pancakes, sausage or coffee cake or egg muffin, fruit, juice, milk, etc.)
At mid-morning they are given a nutritional "snack" (fruit, cookies, or cheese toast, or coffee cake, milk, juice, etc.)
Finally, they are given lunch (burritos or pizza or a cheeseburger or chicken burger, salad, vegetable, fruit, milk, juice, dessert, etc.)
(There are various other menu items that show up, also, but nothing too extravagant or too difficult to prepare.)
Most students toss the fruit and vegetables and anything that might be somewhat healthy into the trash and curse the food that they get, saying, "What the fuck is this shit? If it's not pizza, we don't want it!"
The newer immigrants to the country who have just entered the school system are quite happy to get whatever they can, but are soon swayed by the old-timers to join in the chant for "Pizza, pizza, pizza!" and throwing away the fruits and vegetables.
My mother worked for the public school system in CT and the same waste happened. Many kids refused to eat the food since it was not a Big Mac etc. and just threw it away.
I brown bagged it and even though I may have not liked everything you either ate or starved.
And what is going on with 3 meals? Snack? Oh my. I bet many kids could not eat breakfast anyway since they probably get to school just before class starts or do they miss part of class? Not sure how that works.
Buy: