New York City Schools Facing Cuts if Lunches Aren't Paid For

The New York Times (2/9, Santos) reports on its front page, "Since 2004," New York City "has absorbed at least $42 million in unpaid lunch fees," yet amid a budget crunch, the city Education Department "has been telling principals to collect overdue lunch money or risk having it docked from their school budgets." According to the Times, "The economy has school administrators all over the country scratching for savings even as more parents are falling behind in lunch fees. A September survey by the School Nutrition Association, a professional organization, showed that in 2009-10, 34 percent of school districts saw an increase from the previous school year in the number of meals not paid for."