School denies lunch to girl who owed 15 cents
VOLUSIA COUNTY, FL (WCMH) — A girl in Florida was refused lunch on the first day of school because she was 15 cents short of the needed amount.
The girl’s family told WKMG, the sophomore was attending the first day at University High School, Tuesday, when she took her food to the cashier to pay.
“She puts her food on the tray, gets to the front, gives her number to the cashier, and she says, ‘Well, you owe 15 cents,’” the girl’s mother, Kimberly Aiken said. “My daughter said she didn’t have any money, so the cashier took her food.”
According to Aiken, the cashier threw all the food away and her daughter went without food for the day.
Aiken says the 15 cent debt probably carried over from last year.
“The school is always willing to work with students and families as needed,” Roger Edgcomb, a spokesman for Volusia County Public Schools told WKMG. “The school will be contacting the family directly to help resolve this issue.”
On Wednesday, Aiken’s daughter said she went to school with a quarter to pay the debt and was told she didn’t owe anything.