7 year old denied lunch at Washington elementary school; 'Guess what, you can't have a lunch'
When you were in elementary school as a child, chances are you looked forward to lunch time as an opportunity to get some nourishment after a long day of school work. In Snohomish, Washington, seven-year old Xavier wasn't given that opportunity, according to Fox-affiliate KCPQ.
Xavier tells Fox Q13 a lunch lady at Cascade View Elementary, where Xavier attends school, did not give him lunch. The incident occurred in late October. "It was a sack lunch. It was in a bag, she was passing it around to everybody. The lunch lady said, 'Guess what, you can't have a lunch.' She said that. She said I can't have a lunch," Xavier told KCPQ.
Xavier's dad Eric said his son is on the free lunch program.
Cascade View sent Xavier home with a note indicating he had a negative lunch balance. The school's spokesperson explained when a student account reaches $20 below zero, they are supposed to get a cheese sandwich in addition to as much fruits and vegetables as the child wants. The student is also supposed to get something to drink.
Eric tells KCPQ this actions has caused him to consider taking Eric out of Cascade View Elementary.
He said according to the channel's website, "It made me feel really bad for him. That's not right. That's like saying, 'Hey, you don't have your book bag so you can't have your education'. You can't do that. Feed them. They need to eat. They need to concentrate. They can't concentrate without eating.
"I just don't want this to happen to any other kid. It's hurtful," said Eric.
Xavier's father remembers life as a child and needed more information in light of the school's decision.
"My question was never answered as to why he was denied. I was very mad. I couldn't believe it happened. It happened to me as a child and I could still feel that hurt and I can only imagine what he went through," says Eric.
Snohomoish School District, in which Cascade View resides, says they will investigate the situation.
