School slip up- What would you do?

bestpud

It's unfortunate but it's not the end of the world. We've had letters that were intended for another child so it's not only texts that can go wrong - although one parent isn't as bad as every parent in the school I guess.

If the mother has been in regular contact over the money and there is a genuine reason that the school is aware of then I can understand her feeling upset. If that were the case then there should have been no need for a text anyway.

If she has been burying her head in the sand and hasn't given any reason or made any attempt to pay it then going off on one is a bit cheeky in my opinion.

They need to review how they send texts to all but there's no need to make a mountain out of molehill.

Errata

Personally I'd be going postal and DEMANDING a one to one meeting with the chair of governors for an explanation of why I was placed in the embarrassing position of being made privy to another parent's financial affairs.

Sally_A

Errata wrote: »

Personally I'd be going postal and DEMANDING a one to one meeting with the chair of governors for an explanation of why I was placed in the embarrassing position of being made privy to another parent's financial affairs.

Yes, you would. You are not embarrassed in the slightest by what has happened, so don't waste more school funds and taxpayers money by DEMANDING a meeting.

If I knew the parent that was struggling, I'd try to help them, especially if said child was a good friend of my son/daughter. It's not the ideal way for the situation to come out, but true mates will rally round.

I think we all know that "voluntary contributions" are inflated a bit so that the less well off's/can't be arsed's children can still enjoy the school outing.

sedment

At my childs school, its a dinner ticket system, you buy a book of ten or individually, and its a ticket a day! On the one occasion that my son misplaced his, he was fed and I was given a phone call to provide two for the following day.
As for the text, I think most people would be sensible and not mention it, but there are harpies at every school sadly. Poor child getting bullied, if there is financial hardship, don't certain benefits give children free school dinners anyway???

spacey2012

A Data protection issue, I take it the information on Dinner accounts is stored on the computer.
The offended parent could sue.

ziggy2004

I think I would have a quiet word about how the school was going to avoid that this happens in future. Mistakes happen and what is important is that lessons are learned and in this case I would ask that I am never contacted by text message about any private matters concerning my child but that they call or write instead.

Using text messages for group communication is great but it does show here that this school may need to look at how they protect sensitive information.

System

I'd be spitting feathers if it was me but shame on the Mum who ran up a bill rather than paying it off before it got to this stage...

Has the Mum never considered a packed lunch?

*waits for the flaming to start*

Idiophreak

Judi wrote: »

I'd be spitting feathers if it was me but shame on the Mum who ran up a bill rather than paying it off before it got to this stage...

Has the Mum never considered a packed lunch?

*waits for the flaming to start*

<flaming>

Maybe the mum had paid, but the school had mislaid the cheque? Maybe the letter home requesting payment had been "lost" by the child?
Maybe the mum was just a bit short one month and needed to juggle things.

Shame on her?

You don't know the slightest thing about why they hadn't paid, and yet you're going ahead with "shame on her"...?

Really?

embob74

Treevo wrote: »

Or they could put her in touch with a financial charity so she can learn to pay her debts and not expect others to bail her out.
Maybe if there was a bit of shame about being in debt then people would cut their coat accordingly. There's no excuse for not paying for school dinners - especially when it's far cheaper to send a packed lunch.

Having seen a good friend of mine go through the fiasco of trying to claim free school dinners when she became unemployed after many years of working I think there is an excuse in not paying.
All the schools I have known have taken a very long time to get the authorisation to give the meal for free (although this is probably more to do with the local council admin).
My friend had to wait 6 weeks until they sorted her JSA money out - she had NO other income until then. She did send her child with a packed lunch but she was in tears wondering how she could keep affording to do it. In fact if they hadn't sorted it out when they did she was planning to keep her child at home as she could then feed him pasta from the cupboard reserves.
And did the school give her any money back for the packed lunches when they were entitled to free school dinners? Not a bean - so I can quite understand how a parent would let their child have school dinners on the assumption payments would be backdated when the relevant departments get their act together.