As delinquent meal accounts skyrocket, Washoe County School District trustees fired a warning shot on Tuesday to parents who are “gaming the system” and can afford to pay for their children’s meals but choose not to.
District officials said the problem doesn’t sit with needy families who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, but those who live in more affluent areas and can—at least on paper—afford to pay.
Parents who’ve been unresponsive to letters sent home can expect a tiered accountability system to trigger, with their accounts ultimately turned over to a debt collector if they fall too deep into the red during the 2018-19 school year.