Sometimes a fair solution is hard to find.

The Augusta School District served about $5,525 worth of meals last year that were never paid for.

Some students who don't pay for their meals should be signed up for the free or reduced lunch plan.

Some of them could afford to pay but don't for other reasons.
Regardless, the school system refuses to force a student to go hungry for financial reasons.

But the solution is not to allow students to continue to run up huge bills with no intent to pay.

"We have several families that owe hundreds of dollars and the other amount is spread out among smaller amounts," said Assistant Superintendent John Black.

A compromise is being sought that allows students to eat, but not cost the district as much.

In the past, districts that faced similar problems offered a peanut butter sandwich and water. But allergy issues have put and end to that program.

What the Augusta district is considering is offering students with a negative balance an individual box of cereal and a carton of milk.

"This solution gets them a free meal that is guaranteed to be fresh and some milk," Black said. "The intent is to provide nutrition and not punish the students.

Some of the problem is that parents are too proud or unaware to apply for the free lunch program.

Board president Bob McCalla said if parents truly can't pay, all they have to do is call and the district will take care of the rest.

"That is when I say some of the parents are just too lazy," Carrie Lee said. "It usually isn't the kids' fault. It's the parents."

Bill Rinkenbaugh pointed out that students on the reduced lunch plan might actually cost the district less if they were given a full meal since some of the cost is reimbursable.

Black is going to take that concern back to the committee that is working on the project and report back in July when a formal policy could be approved.