http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/07/10603296-ohio-school-district-hires-collection-agency-to-go-after-unpaid-lunch-money
A school district in Ohio is utilizing a collections agency to go after parents and families of students with outstanding lunch balances. For the district there is over $900,000 in unpaid lunches. With the new federal requirements for nutritious lunches going into effect next school year, the cost of lunches for the school is bound to go up. Therefore it is important for the district to recoup as much of the outstanding balance as possible to offset the new costs. Many school districts are resorting to these means. The average family owing lunch fees owes between $150-170.
I feel for the district as that is a lot of money. However, maybe they need to check some of these who have outstanding lunch fees to see if they qualify for free/reduced meals. If they do, then just get them on that program which is reimbursed by the federal government. I think some sort of program or staff needs to be responsible for making sure that the families get all they are entitled to. If they do not qualify, then I am in agreement that they need to be turned over to collections, but ONLY after determining they do not qualify for any other assistance programs.
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