Cook in McCormick lunch incident placed on leave

WELLINGTON — A cook accused of taking a lunch tray from a McCormick Middle School student has been placed on administrative leave. In a phone interview Friday, Principal Nathan Baxendale said the staff member has been temporarily removed from duty while an investigation plays out. He would not say whether she was on paid or unpaid leave. "The staff member acted against the school district policy regarding student lunch account balances and I am investigating the full scope of the incident," he later said in a written statement. "The academic, social and emotional growth and safety of all of my students is the paramount mission for the entire faculty and staff. I will continue to diligently address any action that goes against that mission." On Jan. 15, a student who received a lunch had it confiscated moments later because of an unpaid $6 cafeteria debt, according to Wellington Schools Superintendent Ed Weber. The incident was captured on video and reviewed during a meeting with the child's parents. "This is not the kind of organization we want to run. It is outside our operating procedures and we will make sure appropriate action is taken," Weber said. "My heart's broken over it." He later apologized to the student and tried to pay off the boy's debt, but someone already had done so. District policy allows parents to accrue $20 in cafeteria debt. After that, a student would still get three meals and access to help from a special fund, then the principal — not kitchen staff — would step in. Baxendale pledged to make sure similar incidents never happen again. He said the Jan. 15 incident will leave the Wellington Schools with a black eye for a long time to come. Baxendale is asking parents with concerns that mirror lunch incident to contact him at (440) 647-2343 or nbaxendale@wellingtonvillageschools.org. School lunch debt has become a hot topic across the nation in the past few years. CNN reported last year that 75 percent of districts in the United States report student meal debt. The Student Nutrition Association has for many years called for schools to serve free meals to all students, and on Jan. 14 published a statement calling on Congress to make changes that would reduce unpaid meal debt for families. "Research shows school meals support academic achievement, obesity prevention and overall student health by improving children's diets and combating hunger. School meals are as critical to learning as teachers and textbooks," the organization said. All public schools in Ohio can offer free and reduced-price meal programs through the federal government to students who meet income requirements. Some districts go above and beyond. Lorain and Clearview school districts, for example, both offer free meals to all students. Oberlin offers free meals to elementary school students. Contact Jason Hawk at (440) 329-7122 or news@lcnewspapers.com.