District drops idea of 'alternate meal' for students in debt

Laina Fullum, nutrition services director for Columbia Public Schools sent an email to parents and guardians in early August saying that any student who owed $15 or more to the district would receive the alternate meal instead of a regular school lunch.

Even though she was the one who initially informed families about the proposed policy, Fullum said she is relieved that the district didn't start serving the alternate meals.

Since the principals started reaching out to the families, the district's unpaid total has fallen to just over $79,000.