PCSSD Kindergartner Denied Breakfast After Running Up $27 Tab
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: September 26, 2012
Pulaski County Special School District officials are pushing parents to turn-in free and reduced lunch forms if they think they should qualify. So far this year, district parents owe $6,000 in outstanding meals and one mom who owes $27 says, she wishes she knew of her son's bill earlier.
"For him to go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast and they say sorry you can't eat today," Jadacian Jones said, explaining her son's ordeal.
Jones son is in kindergarten at Crystal Hills Elementary School. She says she got a call saying her 5 year-old son was denied breakfast because he had run up a tab. Her son Jayden racked up $27 in charges and was denied breakfast twice. Monday, his counselor bought him lunch, Jones says she was notified on Tuesday and took her son breakfast and lunch money.
"It's heartbreaking to have my son call and say mama, I'm hungry," she added.
Jones, a nursing student, says she thought she completed the free and reduced lunch paperwork, but the district says they never received it.
PCSSD Superintendent Dr. Jerry Guess could not comment on this specific case, but says the district is working hard to help parents that qualify enroll their children in the program.
Dr. Guess says many of these families qualify for free and reduced lunch but may be missing out by not turning in the paperwork.
"We see a good return, but we still see a great number of students who will lose qualification Friday if they do not get it completed and returned," he said.
After being stuck with $95,000 in unpaid meals last year, PCSSD is cracking down, saying students will only get three chances to eat on credit. So far, Jayden has done so every day this school year.
"If they stuck to the policy and only let them charge up three meals it wouldn't be a problem," said Jones.
Jones says she didn't get any notification in her son's take home folder and that when she visited the school last week she ate breakfast with her son, but no one mentioned it. Since the call, she has spoken to school officials and worked out her son's lunch payments for the future. She also she took to Facebook, to share her story and encourage other parents to check on their kids.
"I don't want anyone else's child to go through that," she said.
Jones says she was able to fill out a new free and reduced lunch form. All other parents have until Friday to send the forms in order to qualify for this school year.
If you qualify, district officials say you should receive a letter in the mail.
"For him to go to the cafeteria to eat breakfast and they say sorry you can't eat today," Jadacian Jones said, explaining her son's ordeal.
Jones son is in kindergarten at Crystal Hills Elementary School. She says she got a call saying her 5 year-old son was denied breakfast because he had run up a tab. Her son Jayden racked up $27 in charges and was denied breakfast twice. Monday, his counselor bought him lunch, Jones says she was notified on Tuesday and took her son breakfast and lunch money.
"It's heartbreaking to have my son call and say mama, I'm hungry," she added.
Jones, a nursing student, says she thought she completed the free and reduced lunch paperwork, but the district says they never received it.
PCSSD Superintendent Dr. Jerry Guess could not comment on this specific case, but says the district is working hard to help parents that qualify enroll their children in the program.
Dr. Guess says many of these families qualify for free and reduced lunch but may be missing out by not turning in the paperwork.
"We see a good return, but we still see a great number of students who will lose qualification Friday if they do not get it completed and returned," he said.
After being stuck with $95,000 in unpaid meals last year, PCSSD is cracking down, saying students will only get three chances to eat on credit. So far, Jayden has done so every day this school year.
"If they stuck to the policy and only let them charge up three meals it wouldn't be a problem," said Jones.
Jones says she didn't get any notification in her son's take home folder and that when she visited the school last week she ate breakfast with her son, but no one mentioned it. Since the call, she has spoken to school officials and worked out her son's lunch payments for the future. She also she took to Facebook, to share her story and encourage other parents to check on their kids.
"I don't want anyone else's child to go through that," she said.
Jones says she was able to fill out a new free and reduced lunch form. All other parents have until Friday to send the forms in order to qualify for this school year.
If you qualify, district officials say you should receive a letter in the mail.
Comments
Having lunch at school is a necessity, but parents should pay for it!! Why can't parents give children breakfast BEFORE sending them to school? The "nannity state" seems to be alive and well!!
Peggy P.
September 30, 2012 at 8:05 pm
My daughter goes to Maumelle Middle and was denied lunch for not having enough in her account to cover the price of lunch. She did not owe any money, just did not have enough to cover the price of her ticket.
Heathers S.
September 27, 2012 at 6:14 am
