The Hoboken school lunch debacle
3/8/2010:
What’s up with the Hoboken School Lunches?
Since I don’t have any kids here in the Hoboken school system, it’s not always easy to be on top of each and every conundrum that takes place on a daily basis.
But apparently – something has gone awry with the school lunch debit card system (what ever happened to just paying cash for lunch? God, it’s been so long…), and now parents are getting bills for over-debiting their child’s account.
One parent (and Hoboken Realtor) writes about it on a blog – and another 411 reader and parent sent this photo in, saying:
“The Hoboken board of Ed sent home “bills” with students on Tuesday of last week which gave a name to make the checks payable to and a contact number, and that’s it. On Wednesday, they began refusing to feed the children who had received these notes, but failed to inform parents of these intentions. It took three days, and 46 phone calls to actually speak to someone, and learn that my sons account had a glitch, and the bill was being voided. What? How about all the other parents who haven’t gotten through yet? Needless to say, they were unable (unwilling?) to tell me what I owed the public school system money for, but quick to say after three days of denying him lunch, please disregard. My son did overhear something from teachers about Wallace owing the state 40 grand, but I don’t know the validity of that.”
Hoboken411 reached out to several Board of Education members, and will update the story (or comments) accordingly with their response.
26 Responses to ** The Hoboken school lunch debacle **
March 9th, 2010 |
Anyone remember, back in the day, getting that couple of bucks for the collection in church. Where’d it ultimately go? A bag of penny candy, or the church collection? Maybe half here, half there?
Ask this 8 year old if he ever stood on the chocolate chip cookie line. That’s where the money may have gone. Really. Ask your kids.
In response to BarbaraR56 who said:
Last year spoke to a parent of one of the public school children. He said he gave his son cash every week to pay for lunch. He got a notice that he owed an huge amount of money. His son was about 8 yrs. old unless he was having a party or being bullied he quipped there was no reason that he should have gotten this bill. After some investigation, it was found that a former employee allegedly was seen on security camera taking the cash that was supposed to be deposited. Again I say allegedly because this is hearsay. Apparently the employee was fired and is awaiting trial. I think it was in the Jersey Journal one of my neighbors said. Could this be the reason for the confusion?
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March 9th, 2010 |
Just give all the kids an Amex card and build a Wolfgang Puck in the school and everyone will be happy and healthy
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March 9th, 2010 |
Sorry I’m just getting back on line. Never got a call back, but kept calling there. I finally got throught and was told the money I put into her account went to what was owed, which I don’t think was fair since I wanted to make sure she had a decent lunch while her parents work out what they said was owed.
In response to princesstessy who said:
Well these must be the words of a lunchlady. As such, you should know that one slice of cheese in between a super thick roll, no Mayo, no juice no milk, is not a meal. These are children and not prisoners. they are being singled out because for whatever circumstances, their parents did not pay the account. After “squaring away” (oR so I thought) my kids account on Friday, he still got crap today! My child had to ignore them and go get the hot meal to which he was entitled, while being told “go get a sandwich”. THESE ARE KIDS!!!!!Debra, you ever get a call back?
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March 9th, 2010 |
We would pay on time if the bills were given on time. Trust me there were times bills didn’t go out for three to four months.
In response to ShhhDontTell who said:
How about packing a lunch? This can save money, which can help pay that bill off.
I hear people being shocked at how much money was owed at the end of last school year. Doesn’t seem fair to just decide to not pay. And as so many of us know, if you let it go, it piles up. Pay it on time to avoid this.
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March 9th, 2010 |
but, they stopped billing awhile ago. That’s why the lunch form, has space to fill out at the bottom to say which days you want your child to get lunch and there is a space to write the amount of money you are putting in, then send give it to the child’s teacher to turn in.
In response to debra who said:
We would pay on time if the bills were given on time. Trust me there were times bills didn’t go out for three to four months.
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March 9th, 2010 |
That was witty. Good Job.
In response to midtownauthentic who said:
Just curious here but you are a teacher and if you have no remorse for 3/4 of the kids which equates to 75% and you mention 99% of the kids have phones, electronic devices and fitted hats then shouldn’t you have 99/100 worth of no remorse?
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