DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Palus Politicus Separating families that owe lunch money! Pay up or we'll take your kids!

While I was enjoying some forced time off the board, this story popped and was missed. This is the follow up after the Pennsylvania school threatened parents that owe for school lunches that they were going to take their kids away... Like a form of debtors prison. smh

Then a local company offered to pay all the unpaid lunch bills and the school refused... Now they are taking the donation or a donation anyway.

Pennsylvania district sorry it warned that lunch debt could lead to foster care, accepts $22K donation

The Wyoming Valley West School District had initially rejected the idea of a donation that would clear the outstanding fees.

A Pennsylvania school district is apologizing for threatening students’ parents with possible foster care over unpaid lunch debts and has accepted a donation that will cover the unpaid fees.

The board of directors of the Wyoming Valley West School District, which is near Wilkes-Barre, "sincerely apologizes for the tone of the letter that was sent regarding lunch debt," it said in a statement Wednesday.

The board also said that it will accept a $22,000 donation from the CEO of Philadelphia-based La Colombe Coffee, Todd Carmichael, who on Tuesday said his gift was initially refused by the school board’s president.

The Wyoming Valley West School District earlier this month sent letters to parents warning that unpaid debt could lead to their children being placed in foster care.

It stated that if the parent is taken to court, they risk their child being removed "and placed in foster care." "Please remit payment as soon as possible to avoid being reported to the proper authorities," the letter said.

NBC affiliate WBRE of Wilkes-Barre reported last week that the strongly worded letter was part of an attempt by the district to collect around $20,000 in delinquent lunch debt.

Aren Platt, a spokesperson for La Colombe Coffee and Carmichael, said that they were pleased the district had reversed its decision and will accept the donation and want another letter sent to parents who received the warnings.



Platt said the move to accept the gift was "a complete 180."

Carmichael has said that he was moved to donate because as a child, his family received assistance including lunch programs and food stamps after his father's death.

"We are feeling incredibly optimistic with the most recent developments over the last several hours and look forward to taking the next steps to make sure both that the money is used as intended and the parents are treated with dignity," Platt said.

The Wyoming Valley West School District board of directors said in Wednesday’s statement that the $22,000 donation would be directed to the Wyoming Valley West Educational Foundation to eliminate the debt owed by the parents.

"Again, please accept our sincere apology for any harm or inconvenience the letter caused,” the statement, signed by Wyoming Valley West School Board President Joseph A. Mazur, said.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pen...foster-n1034296

This country has lost its mind.

This is a small portion of another article on the topic. Posting it all would be redundant but this portion was something I didn't see mentioned in your article....



That's right. As little as ten dollars.

what a power trip

There was a little more to this story a couple days ago on NPR.
They interviewed someone from the school and he seemed like a real ahole and he said it was perfectly fine on what they sent to the parents. When it was brought up that this is one of the poorest areas in the state, he basically said, "I pay my bills, they got to pay theirs" He also said that they have been calling, e-mailing the people for some time but were not getting much of a response so they went with the letter.

On the guy from the coffee company, he was born dirt poor and worked his way to the top and understood where those families are. And he thought it would have been gut wrenching for his mom to get that letter. He said we were dirt poor but my mom always tried to take care of us.
His offer was one of 5 that offered to pay most or all of the student debt-the school at first refused.
The coffee company guy also said that this had nothing to do with the money-it was shaming the parents and to send a message

smh. i dont get it man. i just dont.

It's sort of a catch 22 when it comes to electing people. I mean some think electing poor people is they answer because they can relate to the common person. But that doesn't really make sense because they have no experience in how to achieve success. How to manage and oversee people.

On the flip side, someone who was born rich has no understanding of how to relate with the common man and the struggles he faces.

Then we have those who say, "elect a businessman". Yet they seem to have no idea of the difference between a family business and a corporation. The head of a family business is much closer to a dictator. His word goes no matter what. Anyone who questions him has no power. That doesn't work within a democracy.

At least with a former CEO you have someone who has worked within a corporate structure. He has a board to answer to. Stock holders to answer to. There is a certain amount of structure and accountability involved.

The coffee guy sounds like pretty good candidate.

No extra pizzaburger or new parents?......hmmmmmmmm.

no clue what you mean...

Actually I was talking to one of my project managers at work a couple weeks ago and I never talk politics at work, but we were talking about tariffs and how they are affecting a large hospital job that I was working on and Trump came up.

And he just stopped and said, you know I voted for Trump in 2016; I thought he was different, knew business, healthcare for his employees, how to strike a deal-I didn't know how he would appear on the world stage but was willing to take a chance. And he wasn't going to vote for cankles. Then he goes on, I will not be voting for him in 2020-he is everything that people from other countries view as Americans-stupid, lazy, unread, egotistical jerks...

and to go on the world stage and kiss putins ass and then go off on a toilet twitter rant against leaders of countries that have been our friends and allies for decades. No, that "@%&*@#$" POS will not be getting my vote.

I think a lot of people feel they were misled and fell for a carnival barker. But we'll see in 2020 I guess.

I continually remind myself that this place is not representative of the country at large. Almost every day.

.

A kid in the school cafeteria might ponder getting extra food in lieu of keeping his parents.

I wonder how much money I could have saved by not paying for my kids' lunches. Sounds like a bargain.

So are you saying you are good with taking people's kids who don't pay their lunch tab? Or threatening to do that? Or you think debtors prisons are cool? Or maybe you just think people should pay their bills, no free rides?...

We all agree people should pay for their kids lunches unless they are in a low income program that does it for them... But I'd like to hear more of how you can look at this and have it speak to more than the injustice of threatening to take people's kids over lunch money.

No, I said, "I wonder how much money I could have saved by not paying for my kids' lunches. Sounds like a bargain."

For those in the real world, that's called a joke. It might not be a good one, but when you got 6 kids who's lunches you paid for for about 30 years, you do wonder how much money you could have saved.

Disclaimer: No liberal thoughts or actions have be inferred, considered, or taken with the comments above. There is nothing to read between the lines, and the statements above should be taken as written.

j/c:

Obviously, this is over the top. With that said, I don't think a lot of people understand this issue completely.

I taught for years. There were always parents who refused to pay for their children[s] lunches. Yet, they had brand new Jordans, Smart phones, tablets, got their hair and nails done weekly, etc.

Folks taking advantage are not folks I think highly of. In my opinion, they are stealing money.

Stealing is ok now.
Just like crossing our borders illegally.
Just like defying Federal Law and declaring your City a Sanctuary.
Just like throwing buckets of water on the police and bouncing the bucket of their heads.
Just like making every kind of false accusation against someone including children.
Just like trying to lynch someone without due process.
Just like not paying for school lunch.

Ain't no thang.

6 kids? Now I see why you are SO conservative.

Erik must be out there in Utah with the polygamist

You are over the top and you and I are certainly not allies.

I will say that people who take advantage of the system like this irritate me to no end. We would have field trips and the kids were expected to pay. Of course, our school had a policy that said no child would be left behind because they could not pay. Thus, I was part of a group of teachers and other parents who would pick a child and "sponsor" them. Typically would be $200 to $300 I was taking away from my own family, but it felt good. The amazing part is those were almost always the same kids who caused discipline problems on the trip and often, their parents would drop them off late and/or pick-them up late. And they would be the first ones to B.......to the high heavens if there was any kind of issue at all.

I don't have much use or sympathy for parasites. People who steal. People who pull this crap w/school fees. People who don't want to pay off their student loans. People who pull insurance rip-off schemes. Etc, etc. Who the hell pays for all of that? I know the answer to that one. And a lot of people are sick of footing the bill for those w/their hand always out and then have the nerve to complain about how things are. Freaking parasites.

I was very poor as a child. It as difficult at times. I still remember sitting on this love seat w/my mom and brother all bundled up in multiple blankets because we couldn't afford to pay too much for the heating bill. My mother stretching meals. My dad searching for work after his mill closed and taking each and every job he could to support his family the best he could. And we never asked for a damn thing. Not once. In fact, we never told anyone at school of our situation. We didn't want handouts. My dad finally got another good job and things got better for us, but damn, it was hard.

I have had families as a school teacher who are similar. Poor families who pay their own way because they have too much pride and dignity to rip-off others. They don't put their hand out and then pee on your shoes afterwards. They are good people and I think they suffer due to the actions of the parasites. I did everything in my power to help folks like that. But, I don't feel sorry for the parasites. Not in the slightest.

Swish must be constantly wrong with his assumptions because he can't see past the stereotypes he views the world with.

the fact that you responded to a funny jab with that is sad.

conservatives are some really debby downers.

Even worse that you think you're funny. I would have went with, "must be catholic" before "from utah".

...sounds corny af coming from your mouth, even when you try to drip irony all over it.

It's like when Mike Brady got that afro perm back in '72.

For me this is very personal.

Some people on this board have no sense of humanity.

I grew up on lunch vouchers, simply because I was born into circumstances that I did not control.

I know what it is like to be on the wrong side of the poverty line.

I am pretty sure that that time has passed.

But I loved my parents, and we somehow got through it.

I will never disparage a child who uses vouchers.

Sometimes the money is just not there and tough decisions have to be made.

Kudos to the man who stepped up.

.

I don't think anyone is slamming those who truly can't afford the lunches. But boy, some people's idea of "can't afford" means "free if I can get it". We were always being called to put more money on my son's lunch account, and there were a few kids living in a high end golf course community nearby on the free lunch program. Boy did this grate my wife's nerves.

Oh the drama.. it said they could send them to court for neglect... if the parents aren't providing for their lunch, maybe they aren't providing for their other meals either? This would launch an investigation to see if these kids are being properly cared for to meet at least some minimum standard... maybe the parents aren't paying for their kids lunches because they are strung out on meth or opioids.. not that uncommon in that part of the world.

As you stated, subsidized (or free) lunch programs are available.. if none of these families are in one, why not? One can only assume they either make too much to qualify or they are just too lazy to apply..

Either way, an investigation might help get to the bottom of it.


I'd like to hear about how many phone calls, notes home, and letters the school district should allow to go unanswered before they do something more serious... based on other conversations, it's clear that most school districts, especially in poorer areas, are painfully underfunded and doing without even the basic necessities required to educate the kids... but this one is evidently supposed to drop tens of thousands of dollars paying for lunches for kids whose parents won't get them into a free lunch program and CONSISTENTLY send them to school with no lunch and no money....

Since I was the only one who brought up a negative about the the parents, I am assuming you are talking about me.

I think you are misinterpreting my point. I am speaking about parent[s] who can afford to pay for the children's lunch and refuse to do so.

If a parent can't afford to pay for their child's lunch, then free or reduced lunches are given to that child.

Thus, my problem isn't w/helping out families who need assistance, but w/families who do not need assistance and exploit the system.

The only issue I have ever had w/those who qualified for free or reduced lunches are the ones who do find money for extra ice cream or cookies each day and have the aforementioned items that I listed earlier, such as the latest tech equipment, expensive attire, and having enough money to pay to get their hair and nails done multiple times a month. Btw----------my wife and daughter tell me how much it costs when they get their hair and nails done and it is absolute highway robbery.

Reminders are typically sent home weekly. And I've never seen one child be refused a lunch. The schools threaten, but ultimately, they aren't going to punish a child. It's my belief the parents know this and take advantage of the situation.

I do. It’s the trump era and these kind of morons think they can do anything that trump does and that it is ok. While the GOP leaders in office sit with their thumbs up their asses and do nothing about the issues that create poverty in certain areas of this great country.

In my area, the schools will withhold grades and diplomas if you have an outstanding debt.

I would like to see links to your research on this family that would pay their lunch dues. I want to know how you know they are a Trump supporter, and a profile of the parents on why they don't pay. Otherwise, this is just a made up rumor and should be deleted by the moderators. Please follow board rules.

Then we strap them further in debt with outrageous college loans so they can move a little forward in life to get out of their poverty. Forcing them into a lifetime of debt as planned by the 1%. Mission accomplished.

Yes, w/holding report cards is one of the tactics used to collect the money, but some of these families don't really care much about grades.

Does anyone know why they aren't paying for their childrens lunches. I mean if it's inability, then that's one thing, if it's that they simply don't wanna pay, that's a whole different thing.

For those that can't afford it, I would think help could be provided.. Not everyone is making a ton of money in this economy... so why not.. Kids can't go hungry..

Some wealthy business man offered to pay the tab for all the kids but the school refused his money.. That would have been perfect for those that can't pay.

For those that can afford it but simply don't wanna pay, feed the kids, sue the parents.

NEVER, EVER threaten to take kids away... NEVER.

They should have been paying for their own lunches long before they were 30. What the hell did you teach these kids anyway!? lol

So it's not that he attacked religion. Just that you think he attacked the wrong religion.

Well alrighty then...

Offers Pour In To Cover Pa. Students' Meal Debt, But School Officials Not Interested
1 minute listen
DOWNLOAD
TRANSCRIPT
July 24, 20191:33 AM ET
Story by
Bobby Allyn
Heard on Morning Edition

Wyoming Valley West High School in Plymouth, Pa. Officials with the school district are not responding to several offers to settle debt students accrued from not paying for cafeteria meals.
Courtesy of Luzerne County
A public school district in Pennsylvania that faced a national outcry after threatening to place children in foster care over unpaid cafeteria debt has received several offers to pay off the entire tab, but school officials do not seem interested.

In a letter sent July 9 to about 40 parents in the Wyoming Valley West School District in an effort to collect the debt, officials warned that if it went unpaid, "The result may be your child being taken from your home and placed in foster care."

According to Luzerne County Manager David Pedri, at least five donors have stepped forward willing to satisfy the $22,000 in debt accrued by dozens of students whose parents did not give them money to pay for the meals.

A prominent media figure is among those who has tried to settle the students' debt. An assistant to this person, who requested anonymity, told NPR that attempts to reach school officials were unsuccessful.

"These are gracious and kindhearted people, and I have forwarded their information over to the Wyoming Valley West School District for their review," Pedri said.



In an interview with NPR, Carmichael said he grew up poor, one of four kids raised by a single mom outside Spokane, Wash. Hearing about a school in rural Pennsylvania threatening to remove children from a household for not being able to pay a lunch bill struck a nerve with him.

"I know what it's like to be shamed at school. I know what these things are. And I know how my mother would react if someone threatened to take her children away," Carmichael said.

So, Carmichael's team contacted the district's school board.

"And," he said, "we were rejected."

Carmichael said his assistant called the school district's president, Joseph Mazur, and the conversation quickly became combative before Mazur abruptly hung up the phone.

Mazur and members of the Wyoming Valley West administration did not respond to NPR's numerous requests for comment on Tuesday.

The situation has left Carmichael, who has done a fair amount of philanthropy, searching for answers.

"I'm just completely mystified by it," he said. "I'm still picking through the pieces and saying, 'What is this?' "


State records show that the school district is one of the poorest in Pennsylvania, and it is situated in a blue-collar community outside of Wilkes-Barre, which is a former coal-mining town.

When Mazur talked to NPR earlier in the week, he defended the letter by saying the school district is strapped for cash and desperate for ways to save money.

That has left Carmichael wondering why the district would turn down donations.

"This really isn't about the money," he concludes. "I think it's about teaching people who are struggling some sort of moral lesson they need to learn, no matter what the consequences are."

Pedri, who oversees the foster care program in Luzerne County, recently sent the district a letter admonishing school officials for the letter and asking them never to do it again.

"Foster care is something we utilize as a shield to assist kids. It's not a sword. We don't like foster care being utilized to try to terrorize individuals," Pedri told NPR.

In an a recent editorial, The Times-Tribune of Scranton called the threats "shameful" and "an act of hubris."

"The state Department of Education and the Legislature had no way of knowing that some school district officials would play the schoolyard bully, issuing threats to separate children from their parents in pursuit of lunch money," the editorial board wrote, urging state lawmakers to "outlaw such outlandish conduct by law and regulation covering lunch debt collection."