Jupiterimages/Getty Images Looking for news you can trust?Subscribe to our free newsletters. A school district in Rhode Island wants its lunch money back—and has hired a private debt collection agency to go after parents to get it. The chief operating officer of schools in Cranston, Rhode Island, recently sent a letter to parents warning them that the district had hired Transworld Systems, a private debt collector, to compel families with unpaid lunch balances to hand over the money, according to a local news report by WPRI. A week’s worth of lunches in Cranston elementary schools costs $12.50. In middle and high school, that price goes up to $16.25. According to the school’s “unpaid lunch policy,” reported by ThinkProgress, students who do not have money for lunch can charge up to five hot meals. If at that point they do not repay their debt, they are fed a “sunny butter sandwich, fruit, and milk” instead of a hot lunch each … [Read more...] about A Rhode Island School District Is Sending Debt Collectors After Families Over Unpaid Lunches
Cranston rhode island
Rhode Island School District Hires Collection Agency to Collect Unpaid Lunch Balances
U.S. A school district in Rhode Island has hired a collection agency to help recover unpaid lunch balances. The Cranston School District in Cranston, Rhode Island, sent a letter to parents that the district had hired Transworld Systems to collect unpaid lunch balances for the district’s lunch program, NBC 10 News reported. "In an effort to reduce our unpaid balance, the District has retained the services of a collection agency. The company is Transworld Systems and they will begin their collection efforts effective January 2, 2019," the letter obtained by the news station said. Raymond Votto Jr., the chief operating officer of the Cranston Public School district, told NBC 10 News that the district has unsuccessfully attempted to collect the outstanding lunch debt themselves. He told the news station that from September 1, 2016, to June 30, 2018, the school district wrote off over $95,000 and the unpaid balance for this year is currently $45,859. A cafeteria worker supervises … [Read more...] about Rhode Island School District Hires Collection Agency to Collect Unpaid Lunch Balances
Police: Rhode Island school fight goes into the street, disrupts funeral
CRANSTON, R.I. (AP) — Police in Rhode Island say a fight between high school students disrupted a funeral procession. The Providence Journal reports police responded to a fight at Ocean State Academy in Cranston Wednesday. Cranston Police say by the time officers had arrived, the fight had spread into the street as a procession left St. Matthew’s Church, which is next to the school. A witness said one of the vehicles in the procession was damaged. Police arrested three juveniles and later released them to their parents. Cranston Police Sgt. Brian D’Amico says he can’t comment on the charges because of their status as juveniles. He didn’t know what they were fighting about. Eighteen-year-old Damaree Wright was charged with disorderly conduct and released. He pleaded not guilty. Close The biggest headlines, delivered to your inbox Get news as it happens. Sign up for Boston.com's email news alerts. Thanks for signing up! … [Read more...] about Police: Rhode Island school fight goes into the street, disrupts funeral
2 Weekend Prison Deaths Under Investigation at Rhode Island’s Adult Correctional Institution
Rhode Island prisons officials are investigating two weekend deaths at the state prison in Cranston. An official with the Adult Correctional Institution tells WJAR-TV the deaths Sunday are unrelated and appear to be suicides. Gina Caruolo says a 70-year-old inmate died in the infirmary at the Intake Service Center. The other inmate, who was aged 53, was a recent commitment housed in a different part of the facility. An eruption from one of Central America’s most active volcanoes killed at least 25 people and displaced thousand of Guatemalans. The Volcan de Fuego, or “Volcano of Fire,” blanketed nearby areas with ash and lava, affecting 1.7 million people. (Published 43 minutes ago) As is the case in all deaths in custody, state police are investigating. No names were immediately released and Caruolo said the department is still notifying the inmates' families. Get the latest from necn anywhere, anytime Download the App Available for IOS and Android Follow necn … [Read more...] about 2 Weekend Prison Deaths Under Investigation at Rhode Island’s Adult Correctional Institution
Dozens of Rhode Island schools exempted from 180-day rule
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Students from 25 schools won't have to make up some of the days they missed this school year.The Rhode Island Department of Education confirmed 25 schools across the state have been exempted from the rule requiring 180 days of classes due to circumstances like power outages or broken water lines.RIDE's Megan Geoghegan said, as a rule, if an entire district is closed on a particular day – such as a typical snow day – there will be no waiver granted. She said the waivers are usually for closures of particular buildings - like when the Toll Gate complex in Warwick was without power following a storm last fall.Two requests for waivers were denied and another 14 are pending, Geoghegan said. WAIVERS GRANTED Barrington Hampden Meadows Elementary - 1 day Sowams Elementary -1 day Central Falls Central Falls High School - 2 days Chariho Cranston Cranston High School East - 1 Cumberland Blackstone Valley Prep High School -1 … [Read more...] about Dozens of Rhode Island schools exempted from 180-day rule