A Rhode Island school district is in hot water for implementing a new policy that will force students with unpaid lunch debt to eat cold sandwiches alongside their peers.

The New York Daily News reports that the news became public after an official statement was made on Sunday. Reports indicate that students who owe lunch money will be served "a sun butter and jelly sandwich" until their account "is paid in full or a payment plan is set up through the food service office."

The Warwick School Committee Facebook page added that the new policy will be effective as of Monday, May 13.

The district received an onslaught of criticism from parents and community members online for the move. The official statement has even earned 660 comments to date.

"Seems there are multiple issues that all [could be] solved with some leadership. Children should not be punished for a system adults create that clearly needs improvements," one wrote, before detailing a list of possible solutions."

"I know as parents this is our responsibility but why take it out on kids if parents are struggling?" a second replied. "The same thing every day is not the greatest way to show children that their parents may need help financially!!! And why a month before school is over for the year, this issue is brought up."

"A butter and jelly sandwich?" commented a third. "That’s a sick punishment that [you're] doing to kids. Your school system should be ashamed of yourselves. U don’t even give a kid a milk on free meal programs [sic]?"

Still, a few argued that it is important for someone to take accountability for the child's school debt.

"We need to look at both sides of the this!" one wrote. "While it is inappropriate to embarrass a child over their [parent's] failings — there's also the argument that if we provide free lunches with no accountability, many parents will purposely choose not to bother paying at all and that money will simply go to something else other than the obligation of feeding their child."

However, most seemed to agree with the outrage directed toward school officials for their lack of empathy for struggling parents and lack of concern for students who may be embarrassed or even bullied for the punishment.

WPRI reports a local West Warwick restaurant owner, Angelica Penta of Gel's Kitchen, started a money jar early last year to alleviate the burden of lunch shaming on children and parents. Penta has reportedly received up to $4,000 in donations since then and recently wrote a check in the amount to the school district. They declined the offer, writing, they were "not in the position to single out or identify specific students that should be selected for a reduction in their lunch debt while excluding others."

The lunch money jar idea was created in support of Rhode Island Rep. Robert Lancia who helped pass a law last year that banned the practice of placing a stamp or wristband on the hand of a child with overdue balances and implemented a new one that required outstanding bills to be sent directly to parents or guardians via the mail.

The district reportedly has over $27,000 in unpaid lunch account debt, to which the community remains to seek a viable solution. One possible resolution is currently pending in state legislation. Local legislators are hoping to pass legislature that would make hot lunches available free-of-charge to all public school students, reports NBC New York.

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Robert Lancia

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