|
|
 Expert
Posts: 1898
   
| Long story short, I work for a school district. The federal government mandates we serve the children at least one meal a day. Some of our children are on a free status for their meals. This information is supposed to stay condidentional. Only the application processor is supposed to know which children are approved for free meals.
Our cafeteria is only supposed to make as many meals as is ordered by the students every morning. Here is where the delima comes in...
Our boss is requiring that we make all students on a free application receive a meal meaning they must pick it up whether they want it or not. If a child on free application does not order we are to alter the morning lunch count to reflect they did. If the child does not pick up his meal our boss is requiring we make him take it.
So, my boss is requiring we 1. discriminate (by making a child pick up a lunch he does not simply because he or she is on free status) 2. Falsify records to reflect a purchase that was not made 3. Illegal release of confidential personal information and 4. Fraud
What do I do? I have tried to speak to my administrator who has spoke with our supe. Our supe knows what he is requiring is illegal but is mandating we do it anyway. I am not comfortable with any of this and feel that there must be a way to report it but still protect my employment.
Sorry for any errors. I'm using my phone.
Edited by cyount2009 2015-01-08 12:07 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Unknown Drip
Posts: 5624
Location: Back in MT BABY!!! | Is what he's requesting in writing with his signature? I would document something to cover yourself incase this goes south. Maybe get a review of your meetings with the Supe outlining the topics covered and their actions they are taking. |
|
| |
|
  Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | Id give it to a child that looks hungry.and not worry about it. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1898
| Bibliafarm - 2015-01-08 12:12 PM
Id give it to a child that looks hungry.and not worry about it.
I wish it were that simple but it's not. The meal program is federally funded so there are strict rules and laws regarding this. Even if I did there is still matter of fraudulent paperwork.
Edited by cyount2009 2015-01-08 12:38 PM
|
|
| |
|
Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | oh I didnt realize that. id report him or have parents report him saying child is being forced to take meals when they dont want them. |
|
| |
|
 Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | cyount2009 - 2015-01-08 12:17 PM Bibliafarm - 2015-01-08 12:12 PM Id give it to a child that looks hungry.and not worry about it. I wish it were that simple but it's not. The meal program is federally funded so there are strict rules and laws regarding this. Even if I did their is still matter of fraudulent paperwork.
I, personally, would give the paperwork to my boss and tell them that if they wanted to falsify the documents, then by all means go ahead, but my name would not be on that paperwork. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1898
| babiemox - 2015-01-08 12:09 PM
Is what he's requesting in writing with his signature? I would document something to cover yourself incase this goes south. Maybe get a review of your meetings with the Supe outlining the topics covered and their actions they are taking.
I have requested it and the supe refers me back to my administrator who then tells me I have to do it because it is a directive from the supe. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 5290
| I'm a teacher in CA. We have a union. I assume you have a classified Union in your district? If so, I would talk to a union rep. Maybe make a call to the powers that be at the government level? |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1898
| FLITASTIC - 2015-01-08 12:33 PM
I'm a teacher in CA. We have a union. I assume you have a classified Union in your district? If so, I would talk to a union rep. Maybe make a call to the powers that be at the government level?
We do have a union and they are looking into it. I did call the CA DOE and they are supposed to be getting back to me. When I explained to the county Analyst what was being requested she sounded a little disgruntled. Hopefully I will get answers from somewhere. |
|
| |
|
Porta Potty Pants
Posts: 2600
| National Labor Relations Board? Your state Department of Labor?
Edited by azsun 2015-01-08 12:51 PM
|
|
| |
|
 Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | They removed a teacher and principal from our school district for submitting wrongful info and getting free lunches. The principal made $90K plus a year. The teacher also was removed.
I would not break the law, make your sup do it. He is doing this so the school can continue to get free lunches and meet a status quo. Actually, in our area the whole DISTRICT, EVERY CHILD gets free breakfast and lunch. They have cheated so long and only now are they investigating this "crime". It goes to show you how corrupt the school systems are every where.
And, the funding is all included in the farm bill...................................
I hate a liar and a thief. |
|
| |
|
 That's White "Man" to You
Posts: 5515
| If you do it, you are just as responsible as they are. Let them fire you, that would be entertaining watching them try to defend that one in court. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1898
| 3canstorun - 2015-01-08 12:53 PM
They removed a teacher and principal from our school district for submitting wrongful info and getting free lunches. The principal made $90K plus a year. The teacher also was removed.
I would not break the law, make your sup do it. He is doing this so the school can continue to get free lunches and meet a status quo. Actually, in our area the whole DISTRICT, EVERY CHILD gets free breakfast and lunch. They have cheated so long and only now are they investigating this "crime". It goes to show you how corrupt the school systems are every where.
And, the funding is all included in the farm bill...................................
I hate a liar and a thief.
Oh trust me, I'm not going to do it. I just don't know how to protect myself for not doing it. |
|
| |
|
 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | Whiteboy - 2015-01-08 12:56 PM If you do it, you are just as responsible as they are. Let them fire you, that would be entertaining watching them try to defend that one in court.
OOOOOH This is true!!! Grab paperwork, take pics, record a meeting with the Supe and Administrator. They can't deny that's their voice when you say Now Supe (Insert name here) and they resapond. LOL 
My mother moved to a private school after being a professor at a college, and a middle school teacher at a public school. Now she teaches kindergarten at a private school with no federal funding of any kind. The pay cut was hard on her at first before her raises, but she enjoys her job and her clear conscience.
Good luck to you in all of this. I can only imagine wat a pickle you're in... Prayers  |
|
| |
|
Duct Tape Bikini Girl
Posts: 2554
| Ask for the instructions in writing. If provided, do what you're told cause you've got 'em by the gonads. If nothing in writing is provided, do as you wish;) |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1898
| Whiteboy - 2015-01-08 12:56 PM
If you do it, you are just as responsible as they are. Let them fire you, that would be entertaining watching them try to defend that one in court.
This is exactly what I told my administrator. I know it's wrong and would be just as at fault if not more so when the states catches wind of this. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1074
| I would report your district to the State agency. If you don't get any results, then go to the Federal agency. I'd bet that the Sup is in on the falsifying records as well.
|
|
| |
|
Hugs to You
Posts: 7550
Location: In The Land of Cotton | Whiteboy - 2015-01-08 1:56 PM If you do it, you are just as responsible as they are. Let them fire you, that would be entertaining watching them try to defend that one in court.
THis ^^^^^
I would ask for the directions in a handwritten form. After I got them, I would look at them and say I was not going to do it. It is against the law. All the while, I would have my phone in my pocket on voice message record.
|
|
| |
|
 Googly Goo
Posts: 7053
| cyount2009 - 2015-01-08 12:32 PM babiemox - 2015-01-08 12:09 PM Is what he's requesting in writing with his signature? I would document something to cover yourself incase this goes south. Maybe get a review of your meetings with the Supe outlining the topics covered and their actions they are taking. I have requested it and the supe refers me back to my administrator who then tells me I have to do it because it is a directive from the supe.
If you don't have the directive in writing, if they get caught, they'll make you the fall guy. |
|
| |
|
 The One
Posts: 7997
Location: South Georgia | I am a teacher as well. Do you have educator insurance? In Georgia, we pay monthly for insurance which could be used in instances such as this. I'd call my insurer for guidance and directives on how to proceed. If necessary, they also provide legal intervention in situations. In Georgia we have two providers: Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) and Georgia Association of Educators (GAE). They'd tell you how to proceed and offer the best guidance. |
|
| |
|
Googly Goo
Posts: 7053
| Contact your Congressman. Do it in email form so there is documentation of it being sent and recieved. That should immediately get you some protection under the fed whistleblower legislation. |
|
| |
|
Miracle in the Making
Posts: 4013
| 3canstorun - 2015-01-08 1:53 PM They removed a teacher and principal from our school district for submitting wrongful info and getting free lunches. The principal made $90K plus a year. The teacher also was removed.
I would not break the law, make your sup do it. He is doing this so the school can continue to get free lunches and meet a status quo. Actually, in our area the whole DISTRICT, EVERY CHILD gets free breakfast and lunch. They have cheated so long and only now are they investigating this "crime". It goes to show you how corrupt the school systems are every where.
And, the funding is all included in the farm bill...................................
I hate a liar and a thief.
plus they are crappy
when i was in grade school they cooked our lunch there we had no aid back then no free lunch or breakfast
heck i am 64 i don/t do breakfast except at night or 3am coming in from show |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 5290
| cyount2009 - 2015-01-08 10:36 AM
FLITASTIC - 2015-01-08 12:33 PM
I'm a teacher in CA. We have a union. I assume you have a classified Union in your district? If so, I would talk to a union rep. Maybe make a call to the powers that be at the government level?
We do have a union and they are looking into it. I did call the CA DOE and they are supposed to be getting back to me. When I explained to the county Analyst what was being requested she sounded a little disgruntled. Hopefully I will get answers from somewhere.
Good!!! I always try to stay out of union business. I don't think classified has tenure. I would be worried about getting fired for other stuff. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 49
| I used to work as a high school cook at a small school, and this is what they started doing. They were bagging up to go style breakfasts and sending one of us out into the halls to give them away for free to any student who wanted it. But get this they billed these "free breakfasts" to the free lunch program kids. They were just flat out falsifying records to get more federal lunch money. I wish I could of reported it, because it certainly struck me as wrong. I'm sure there is alot of this abuse happening.
|
|
| |
|
Regular
Posts: 90
| Check with your local EDD office, if they have one there. If not, hit their website up for information. I know they're painful to call because the phone system sucks, but they may be able to help provide guidance or discuss whistle blower protection. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1898
| Thanks everyone! As far as the union, we aren't tenured but we are vested and protected. I will keep everyone posted on how this unfolds. |
|
| |
|
 Semper Fi
Location: North Texas | I kept waiting for someone to suggest going to the District's School Board, you know The Local Elected Citizens who are responible to oversee The School District and Their Behvavior........................ |
|
| |
|
 Take a Picture
Posts: 12838
| In Texas there is a state agency that regulates the school cafeterias. I know because I applied for a job. It is through Texas Education Agency. They check nutritional content of meals and make sure their paperwork is in order. I would think that most states have some kind of regulating agency to enforce Michelle Obama's nutrition standards. ( what a joke). I would speak to someone that is a part of that agency. Any time that there has been a problem in a school that I have been in the people at the bottom of the food chain were not held responsible. The superintendent was the one that was they targeted. We had an attendance error that was minor and the attendance clerk was not held responsible, the principal.
As far a any kind of tenure is concerned, you can forget that. I worked in a school district for 24 years and when a new superintendent was hired, he decided to get rid of all the teachers that had been teaching a long time so he could hire first year teachers for half the salary that we were being paid. One guy had been in that school district 27 years and never missed ONE day of school. He had about 180 sick leave days saved up. He was quoted in the paper as saving $400,000 by letting 10 teachers go. I was one of the ones that got to hit the road. When one door closes another door opens and even though I was bitter I soon learned that it was probably the best thing that has ever happened to me. I teach in Marshall TX---home of the free lunch. |
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 286
Location: hillsboro mo. | My advice would be to follow the chain of command. Go to your boss first, not satisfied , go to his boss, not satisfied and so on. I do believe if the school board was aware of what is being requested of you they would appreciate the info. and put an end to it. I have worked within the education system for 25 years and it seems to me people get more positive results when they follow the chain instead of immediately jumping to the top of command. Sorry they put you in this position and good luck. |
|
| |
|
 Toastest with the Mostest
Posts: 5712
Location: That part of Texas | lwagner - 2015-01-09 9:07 AM My advice would be to follow the chain of command. Go to your boss first, not satisfied , go to his boss, not satisfied and so on. I do believe if the school board was aware of what is being requested of you they would appreciate the info. and put an end to it. I have worked within the education system for 25 years and it seems to me people get more positive results when they follow the chain instead of immediately jumping to the top of command. Sorry they put you in this position and good luck.
+1
If your boss is suddenly changing protocol, it's probably because someone above him is telling him to initiate this new action. Perhaps something has come down the pipeline from the people in charge of the program saying that this is what needs to be done now under these guidelines.
The one thing that I would really look at is whether or not you are working under the correct assumptions about the "rules" concerning all of this when it comes to the reporting requirements, application confidentialty guidelines and anything else. Have you seen those exact guidelines in writing or are you going off of what someone has told you?
Secondly, I would probably take that information to your Supe and ask him if the guidelines have changed or where it is in writing that you guys are allowed to do the things you've been told to do. Ask for documentation from him if not giving you guys the new guidelines.
If talking doesn't get you anywhere, I would start documenting in writing the rules you are looking at and how the new protocol is deviating from that. I would send a letter to the Supe detailing your concerns and asking for written clarification on the new guidelines. If that doesn't work, I would go up the chain and do the same.
|
|
| |
|
Googly Goo
Posts: 7053
| Red Raider - 2015-01-09 9:24 AM
If your boss is suddenly changing protocol, it's probably because someone above him is telling him to initiate this new action. Perhaps something has come down the pipeline from the people in charge of the program saying that this is what needs to be done now under these guidelines.
The one thing that I would really look at is whether or not you are working under the correct assumptions about the "rules" concerning all of this when it comes to the reporting requirements, application confidentialty guidelines and anything else. Have you seen those exact guidelines in writing or are you going off of what someone has told you?
......
Good point. You better be darn sure that what they are asking you to do is inappropriate. |
|
| |
OT - legal input please. My boss is requiring me to break the law.