Let the kids eat and dance!

Let's change the narrative.... If your high school student has a lunch debit... your child can NOT buy a HOCO ticket... it is considered a obligation! Please help us raise the funds to pay off the schools food debt, so the kids can go to HOCO!

Hey friends! I am getting a lot of traction in this food conversation and that is because YOU are helping make a difference! We currently have raise a little over $3k. I am also getting a lot of questions. I don’t know who decided to use the Child Nutrition debt as an "obligation" or why they thought of this rule. I do know that the food debt is only being used as a a long term consequence (they can eat today, but suffer later) at the high school level not at the lower levels. Why is this type of equity between what happens at all other levels and at the high school allowed? Why are they using passive aggressive manipulation towards the high school students? Why is their this type of discrimination being place among the older kids vs the younger kids? Kids in the lower levels are not being denied field trips, fall festival, formal access at the elementary, intermediate or middle school level because they have a Child Nutrition debt. So, I am sitting here wondering how does anything of this makes sense? Right?!

What I know is this...

The Child Nutrition Program is federally funded. They can not give specific account information out to protect the privacy of students, which is completely understandable.

It was conveyed to me that the $16k hovers around this number daily ("always around a 5 figure debt"), based on who pays off their debt and who continues to accrue debt and this is for the high school kids only. However, some are saying this is a district wide food debt, but I can not get a solid answer about this... There NEEDS to be an investigation!!! If all students throughout the district are a part of this debt and the debt exceeds $16k then why are the high school students being held accountable for that 16K? If it’s indeed an issue that’s districtwide, why are the high school students the only ones suffering? But, like I said, they told me this was strictly the high school debt that has been over several years. But, also note during Covid, everyone was under the universal meal program... so, how far back is this debt?? Are our kids being punished for debt that was present prior to even being in high school? How is that fair?

If the high school's financial secretary had no idea that this rule applied, how were families suppose to know? When their child called home because they could not buy a ticket?! Make it make sense!

Whoever decided on this rule is creating an inequity between students/families.

If your student has a food debt, they will not receive their diploma, as they have an "obligation". Last year, thankfully another business owner and the American Legion helped pay off the seniors accounts, so they could receive their diplomas.

Kids at any age level never know when their family will hit financial, food insecurity, or mental health barriers.

Parents who are in need of free/reduced meals, please go here to complete the form. https://smyrna.healtheliving.net/

The high school does have the snack shack program for any student who stays after school, it’s federally funded and all the food is free. I know this was also at middle school when my kids were there.

No representative from our district has contacted me concerning this matter, but others have.

Several news reporters have reached out to discuss.

I was told that if the debt is under $20, they typically let that slide, as it appears those accounts are paying regularly, however that is not true. A parent reached out last Friday, stating their child owed .5$ (cents) and was not allowed to buy a HOCO ticket. As noted in their "Official statement"... https://bit.ly/ssd_officialstatement_october52023

Tickets are no longer available for the HOCO. The collection of funds will still go to the Child Nutrition program, regardless if all the tickets are sold out. As long as, there is a debt the kids can not participate in any social events like the Homecoming, so we will continue to forage through and help where we can! Every little bit will help reduce that large number for the Child Nutrition Program. If they can’t go this time, at least now there is a conversation happening to help make a change towards this policy. Several local officials are involved and the DOE. We are making a difference! ❤️

Yes, I am aware they think that I will not turn over the money and that I am lying. I have not lied once about what is happening, anytime something happens in our district. I ALWAYS do my research before letting others know! I can promise that I always have the best intentions for these kids! ALWAYS! The school district gladly accepted the Back to School Drive that my team and I set up, with local community businesses & members that served around 600 families. I personally donated $1500 towards that drive. Please do not let them fool you. My heart is with our children first!

I keep getting asked by many, "What can I do to help with the lunch debt situation?"

❤️Keep Sharing the Gofundme link to your personal friends, family, co-workers, groups, and representatives. https://gofund.me/2f47e77e

❤️ Support House Bill 125, introduce by Sherae'a “Rae” Moore for State Representative, Rep. Sherae'a "Rae" Moore, & Sen. Elizabeth "Tizzy" Lockman.

More details about the bill here... https://www.capegazette.com/article/bill-would-offer-free-meals-all-public-school-students/259194?fbclid=IwAR22hDTckE-DBgjgGpVV3AQ_AL1I5ZAmrOyYghOwa1UG4Zo4NWK8Xw8EkdU

❤️ Call the school, the district office, department of ed, and state and local representatives. Ask the tough questions!!! If we all do it there has to be some change!

Here are some solid questions....

1. Why are only the high school students being punished for lunch debt that belongs to their parents? Why are we discriminating against them? (Strong arming them?)

2. Why is this behavior allowed? Why can the school district/school use passive aggressive manipulation? If a parent did this, it would be considered a form of abuse.

3. If Child Nutrition has grant $ that provides free food to kids in that snack shack program, why is there no money to fund for free breakfast & lunch? Why is this grant money only used for our sports teams/clubs to eat after school via snack shack?

4. Why is there repeated injustice in so many areas- food, bullying, bathroom issues, bringing female high school students in offices with male staff, not allowing a special needs child to attend school and threatening the cops if the parents bring their kid to school, the constant breaking of the IEPs/504 plans, staff not feeling protect and fear of retaliation,... oh, let's not forget the gun issue last year, that the high school still denies ‍♀️---- the list can go on and on.... in this district EVERYTHING gets pushed under the rug. If the district does not benefit, they just act like things are not happening and we are crazy, liars. Why are issues and concerns NEVER reported to DOE by the school? (So, it appears our schools are highly rated.) Why does the DOE allow them to hide everything and turn a blind eye? Will they begin an investigation to comb through our district injusticess and misconduct?

Thank you for all that you are doing to make change in our district happen!