New meal charge policy to prevent lunch shaming

I was proud of the Medford School Committee when we passed an updated Meal Charge policy that made lunch shaming a practice that should not be happening in Medford.

I do not believe any of our food service staff have ever purposefully shamed any child. They are incredibly caring and this policy change was not about their intentions.

Recent stories at various news outlets have highlighted what it is really like to have not enough money on your account to purchase food, and the School Committee acted to make sure we protect our students.

The policy does not address how the food service program will cover the unpaid charges - that's up to the School Committee and a challenge I believe we can meet each year.

Lunch Shaming in the News:

https://www.apnews.com/21d02ce0aff444508ca427508ac1580b

https://www.eater.com/2019/5/22/18634237/lunch-shaming-students-meal-debt-american-schools

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/12/politics/school-lunch-shaming-children-debt/index.html