ST. PAUL - Statement from Representative Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth), chair of the House State Government Finance Committee, who previously authored legislation to specifically halt the practice of shaming students who lacked sufficient funds to pay for school lunches and Representative Nels Pierson (R - Stewartville), who represents the area:
"It is deeply disappointing to hear reports that students are being shamed in front of their peers due to not having enough funds in their accounts to pay for lunches. We passed legislation to specifically demand that schools do not demean or stigmatize students whose school lunch fund balance has run empty," said Rep. Anderson. "I plan to discuss tightening the language around these practices to include withholding funds from school districts that choose to not comply. This is unacceptable and amounts to school sanctioned bullying of kids."
"I'm saddened to hear reports of local students feeling shamed in the lunch line," said Rep. Pierson. "Through no fault of their own, these kids get set apart from their classmates, and put simply, that shouldn't happen. I support Rep. Anderson's efforts to fix state law to ensure this practice doesn't continue in the future."
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