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Good Samaritan attempts to pay off school lunch debt for student who was told she couldn't graduate from high school without clearing the bill - but finds herself blocked by infuriating layers red tape
A good Samaritan wanted to do a good deed for a high school student told her she wasn't allowed to graduate because of school lunch debt - but what should have been a quick and easy process turned into a frustrating and confusing ordeal.
Sarah Stusek posted a video on TikTok yesterday and talked about a Maryland high school student whose overdue school lunch account is stopping her from graduating.
'They have a rehearsal today, and they will not let her attend until the balance is paid off,' said Stusek.
The TikToker then called the Maryland school to speak with its employees, but she encountered difficulties when she asked about paying off the student's debt.
Stusek's TikTok video has received nearly one million views, and she added a link to the Proper Help Foundation in its description.
Sarah Stusek posted a video on TikTok yesterday after a Maryland high school student told her that she was not allowed to graduate because of her unpaid lunch debt
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free lunches to children at all 24 Maryland public school systems.
According to the website, more than 900,000 students in Maryland have access to these meals every day.
Stusek did not reveal the name of the student's high school, but she wrote in the comment section that the student was not allowed to receive a cap and gown.
The TikToker was connected to the cafeteria manager after she requested to speak to the person in charge of overdue lunch accounts.
Stusek's mission to pay off the student's lunch debt hit a snag after the employee told her that she could only pay a maximum of $120 at a time.
'I paid off $120 yesterday and $120 today, but it's not going to be paid off in time for graduation,' said Stusek.
Stusek discussed the matter with a payment processor, who told her that the Maryland school was not allowed to let her pay off the entire balance.
'The school is saying that it's something entirely different. It's not school lunch; it's some other financial obligations that the student can also not pay for themselves,' she said.
Stusek contacted the school about the matter with hopes in paying off the student's debt. However, she hit more than one snag due to its online spending requirements
The National School Lunch Program ( NSLP ) provides low-cost or free lunches to children at all 24 Maryland public school systems
Stusek did not give up on her quest to help the high school student, and she later confirmed in a comment that she had paid off the debt.
It left the TikToker feeling like 'nobody's advocating for these students' and that the situation was 'super embarrassing' for the school.
However, according to the West's Annotated Code of Maryland Education, the school may have had the right to deny the student entry to the rehearsal.
The document defines unpaid meal debt as money owed to a school by a student for school meals or insufficient funds in their account.
All Maryland public schools are required to notify the student's parents or legal guardians when there is a low balance.
Maryland students who have unpaid meal debt may be forced to wear a wristband, complete chores or tasks, deny or dispose of a meal, and restrict their participation in school-related extracurricular activities.
Other TikTokers have written about their own experiences with school lunch program and a woman who claimed to be an educator in Maryland chimed in on the matter.
Stusek revealed in her video's comment section that she did manage to pay off the student's lunch debt, but does not know if they're allowed to graduate
More than one TikToker who commented on Stusek's video asked what they can do to help. Stusek added a link to the Proper Help Foundation, which aims to end school lunch debt
'Maryland schools do not provide free lunch unless the student is a FARM, title 1 or low income,' she wrote.
She also advised other commenters who claimed to be from Maryland to 'reach out to the community liaison' or a school principal for assistance on filling out school lunch account paperwork.
One commenter claimed that their school threatened them to pay for their $400 student lunch account bill.
My school tried to not let me walk or go to prom when I was told I got a scholarship by them for a choire event,' she wrote.