Published: Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Edmonds students who owe to get more than just a cheese sandwich
LYNNWOOD –The cold cheese sandwich will no longer stand alone.
The Edmonds School District has been substituting those sandwiches, and nothing else, for full lunches for students who are behind on their meal fees this school year. A muffin has been substituted at breakfast.
It’s an attempt to recoup more than $200,000 in fees owed for school meals.
Now, after some complaints, district officials are looking at other ways of addressing the financial shortfall. They’ve decided to at least add milk to the sandwich or muffin, effective Thursday, officials said.
Before 2004, the district provided no lunches to students who did not pay. That year, district officials decided they didn’t want kids going hungry.
Last year, the total on the delinquent accounts began to mount, superintendent Nick Brossoit said. At the start of this year the total reached $207,763.
This summer, district officials made two decisions. The first, approved in a unanimous vote by the Edmonds School Board, was to raise the price of meals, now ranging from $1.75 for an elementary school breakfast to $4 for a high school lunch.
The second, informally agreed to by the board, was to substitute the sandwich or muffin in an attempt to spur families to pay their fees.
When school started last week, 2,750 students owed $10 or more. After five days, $45,269 has been repaid from 961 students, according to the district.
The Edmonds School District has been substituting those sandwiches, and nothing else, for full lunches for students who are behind on their meal fees this school year. A muffin has been substituted at breakfast.
It’s an attempt to recoup more than $200,000 in fees owed for school meals.
Now, after some complaints, district officials are looking at other ways of addressing the financial shortfall. They’ve decided to at least add milk to the sandwich or muffin, effective Thursday, officials said.
Before 2004, the district provided no lunches to students who did not pay. That year, district officials decided they didn’t want kids going hungry.
Last year, the total on the delinquent accounts began to mount, superintendent Nick Brossoit said. At the start of this year the total reached $207,763.
This summer, district officials made two decisions. The first, approved in a unanimous vote by the Edmonds School Board, was to raise the price of meals, now ranging from $1.75 for an elementary school breakfast to $4 for a high school lunch.
The second, informally agreed to by the board, was to substitute the sandwich or muffin in an attempt to spur families to pay their fees.
When school started last week, 2,750 students owed $10 or more. After five days, $45,269 has been repaid from 961 students, according to the district.
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