Teachers Accused Of Eating Kid's Lunches
Are teachers at a local school helping themselves to free lunches? That is the accusation at one Philadelphia school and a whistleblower says she was fired over it.
Samenia Mayer was working the summer program at Germantown High School. She says she noticed teachers having federally funded lunches before the students could get them.
Mayer took pictures of teachers with the lunch bags.
She claims the problem got so bad that even when the school ordered more lunches, several students went hungry.
Mayer also says she complained to several groups and the principal, who she says ignored her. Then, she alleges, they turned around and fired her.
“As you know regular school lunch isn’t that great so it was like an extra incentive to have a catered lunch come in on Tuesdays and Thursdays and that’s when the staff were abusing that and were taking lunches off the top, ” Mayer told Fox 29.
“There were times when students didn’t even get their lunches because staff had taken them off the top.”
The School District has issued a statement saying that it investigated Mayer’s allegations and they are “without basis and fact.”
It says in part, “if there are more meals than students, then those meals are offered to volunteers and staff. At no time are volunteers and staff members served meals when they were not enough for students.”
The district also says the meals are paid for through school funds and not Department of Labor grant dollars.
Ironically, the district says after Mayer was fired, signs went up warning teachers not to eat the student’s food.
Mayer plans to file a complaint with the EEOC.
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Full Statement From The School District
The District's Office of Multiple Pathways to Graduation and Principal Margaret Mullen-Bavwidinsi of Germantown High School conducted a full investigation of the complaints brought forward by Ms. Mayer and they found them to be without basis and fact.
Germantown High School developed a breakfast and lunch incentive program to motivate approximately 80 students to attend the 9th Grade Summer Bridge program. During special occasions the school provides special incentive meals for students. These meals are paid for through school base funds and not from the Department of Labor grant dollars. All students must sign for their special incentive meals as part of the program's accountability process. If there are more meals than students, then those meals are offered to the volunteers and staff. At no time are volunteers and staff members served meals when there are not enough for students.
It is also important to note that the school's regular lunch and breakfast program is also available during summer school. All students have access to a meal at no cost over and above the special incentive meal. The regular breakfast is served from 7:30 to 8:00 AM and lunch is available three times a day. The special incentive meal is an extra treat that is available in addition to the meals the students get at the cafeteria throughout the summer.
Regarding the removal of Ms. Mayer from the program, it is the School District's policy not to comment on personnel issues. It is important to note that Ms. Mayer is an employee of the Boys and Girls Club of America and it is their responsibility to manage and oversee their staff. The Boys and Girls Club of America is under contract with the District to provide mentoring services to students at Germantown High School.