EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Parents at Tippin Elementary School in West El Paso are divided over whether it’s an issue that the school and El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) are charging students who bring their own lunch to school 15 cents for utensils.
The debate sparked online across separate platforms, one parent taking to an online message board to share her kid’s experience.
Jenny Solo alternates between packing her two kids’ lunch or purchasing food at the school. On EPISD’s first day of school earlier this week, she said one of her sons misplaced his utensils and when he went to ask for a replacement, the school charged him 15 cents.
While she does have an issue with the charge, she says her bigger concern is the fact that this change to policy was not shared with parents.
“Kids should not be worried about money for food, right? If they really have to pay 15 cents, it should be communicated through an email, through phone message. But it’s being communicated directly to my kids, so there’s a little bit of a gap in the communications because this should be really between adults,” Solo said.
She said her kids have attended Tippin Elementary for four years now, and that it’s a great school. Her main issue lies with EPISD and their Food and Nutrition Services Department and believes this policy should be applied to all schools.
“Why is this even a policy? If it’s going to be a policy, apply across the board to all the schools. So that way parents are not confused because some schools are doing it, some schools are not. Or two, if you’re going to do that and it’s because of this exclusionary process where it’s only for adults who are utilizing more than they should, then maybe it should be for staff members, adults, and then exclude the kids,” Solo said.
Tippin Elementary is one of seven non-CEP Campuses in the districts, meaning that they do not fall under the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). The federal program allows for schools in low-income areas to provide all students with free breakfast and lunch.
EPISD is not the only district in El Paso that has multiple campuses that are non-CEP.
On EPISD’s website in the Food and Nutrition Services tab, you can locate their “Menu Price Items” which lists that utensil packs, PC, condiments, six compartment trays and ice cups have a 15-cent charge.
Parents at the school were divided over the issue. Some were outright upset at the charge, while for others it was not an issue at all.
Most, however, were not aware of the policy, despite commending the school for its communication with parents.
“I have mixed thoughts about the whole thing,” said Steven Winters, who said his child already pays for the school’s food, but that she was still charged for the utensils. “My problem is that if they’re purchasing a lunch, they should be offered a utensil as part of the purchase.”
Winters said he’s fine with the charge for kids who bring their own packed lunch to account for the school’s budget, but if there were a reason for all students to be charged, he would have liked to receive notice.
“But to have my child come and tell me? that’s kind of crazy, especially when I use the ‘My School Bucks’ (app) to add money to my kid’s account,” he said.
Despite this, Winters said Tippin Elementary and EPISD have been “great” about communicating with parents.
“We haven’t received any communication from Tippin regarding the utensils, but with it being the first week of school, I think that there were other issues that were really, really important and I think we need to be a little bit more forgiving as far as this being the first week, I’m sure that the communication will go out,” said a parent who did not want to be identified, but added that she does not have an issue with the policy.
“I just found out about it, and I’m not sure that I agree with it,” said another parent who did not want to be identified.
“I have a kindergartner that is five years old, and I do pack her lunch everyday. But someday I could forget to (include) a utensil, and for them to tell her that she has to pay? I don’t want her to have to worry about (money). I also would have appreciated a heads up,” she said.
KTSM reached out to EPISD regarding the matter, and said they are currently looking into it.
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