Reaching out to Commissioner Sid Miller, Texas Department of Agriculture

The Texas Department of Agricultures publishes Charge Policy guidance for schools. In a letter mailed today I've requested that Commissioner Miller issue refined guidance to schools requesting that meals continue to be provided students while repayment is worked out among adults. If necessary schools must be allowed to use escalating punitive measure in order to recover payments from parents and guardians, as long as students as young as four are not suffering the consequences for any financial oversight. Regarding Charge Policies, the Texas Department of Agriculture policy states "Schools should ensure policies adequately encourage payment from those fiscally responsible and do not punish students"; I believe that taking meals trays away from students is in fact punishing and that practice needs to stop. The Charge Policy document can be located here - http://www.squaremeals.org/Portals/8/files/NSLP/Charge-Policy-Rack-Card.pdf I've been contacted by the Copperas Cove Leader Press regarding an interview about this petition, a little more local publicity should help this initiative. In the mean time please share this petition on social media, send it as a text message to your contacts who do not use social media, send a copy to your child's teacher and school principal, promote it as you see fit. The Texas legislature meets again in January 2017 and if not acted upon sooner I would like this to be their #1 priority. Thanks for ALL of your comments and support!