Student Ordered to Throw out Lunch

Madison County High
School students tweeted out a photo of 15-year-old
Dominic Russell who refused to obey cafeteria staff.

I was in
the hole $26, and I think and I had already gotten my lunch and I had walked
back to the table, said Russell.

Because he
owed the money for past unpaid lunches when he got to the cafeteria register
with his tray Thursday, he said a lunch lady laid down the rule now being
enforced.

They came
to my table, and got me and made go back up and throw it away, said Russell
who refused o throw out the fresh food.

Classmates
held up signs in support protesting staff penalizing kids who owe for debt on
lunches.

The lunch
lady had been throwing away food that hadnt been touched because people have
built up a debt on their account, said Ragen Treadway.

I think it
was humiliating for the kids that didn't have the money to pay for their lunch,
said Angela Riddle, whose daughter attends the high school.

As for Russell,
students began chanting Let Him Eat sparking a mini-protest on Twitter.

They never
told me I had a negative balance until today, said Russell.

But
principal Steve Bowlin tells News 13 each time a student eats they're told.

At $15 dollars,
they start really informing them tomorrow make sure to bring in your lunch
money make sure you bring in your lunch money,

They've
never sat with a trash can telling people to throw their lunch away, said
Hanna Farmer, an 11th grader.
I think its
completely insane, said Gabi Smith, a 10th grader. You shouldn't
make a student throw away his lunch just because he's behind on funding.

I just
pulled out a five, gave them the money and told them to keep the change, said
Russell.

Dominic
ended up paying for his lunch, but feels the issue of food getting wasted has
now been exposed. What happens next is now up to administrators.

If this is
a North Carolina policy, which Im told it is, I think they should re-evaluate,
said Riddle.

Administrators
are trying to clamp down on a huge annual student lunch debt with students accruing
bills that never get paid. Madison County students say this is the first time
they've witnessed lunch staff ordering students to throw out their lunches. The
staff will offer them a peanut butter and jelly sandwich but not the regular
lunch.

The
principal has already planned a Monday meeting with students to see what other
ways they could deal with students racking up cafeteria debts that ultimately
end up costing the school.by Kimberly KingFollow Kim on Twitter @KimKingReports

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