District fails to release findings from school lunch investigation, sparks outrage


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SALT LAKE CITY — The start of a new school year failed to bring long-awaited answers from an investigation into a school lunch incident gone awry.

It’s been seven long months since a few dozen children were denied lunch at Uintah Elementary because they didn’t have the money in their accounts to pay for it. While the Salt Lake City School District promised parents findings from its investigation at a meeting Tuesday night, officials failed to release that information.

Instead, they told angry parents they’d have to wait a little longer for the final report. Some parents argued it was a ploy to buy more time to cover mistakes.

“This is just another attempt by the Salt Lake City School District and school board to cover up information that we should have known months ago,” said parent Erica Lukes.

The story gained national attention when about 30 to 40 kids had their trays confiscated and were handed milk and an apple instead. Children reported seeing a school lunch lady throw those trays of food away.

The lunch period ended with both children and staff members in tears.

The school’s lunch lady resigned a few months ago, but parents and some board members feel she shouldn’t be held responsible for the incident. They argue she was likely just doing what she was told.


This is just another attempt by the Salt Lake City School District and school board to cover up information that we should have known months ago.

–Erica Lukes, parent


“What they have done to her, it just lacks words,” said Michael Clara, a member of the Salt Lake City School District Board. “It’s difficult to follow inconsistent instructions and procedures … and it’s unfair.”

Many parents told the district they’d never received any sort of notification that their child’s account balance was at zero. The district promised to review the school’s notification policy as part of the investigation, but again, those results are still being held.

“I believe that this was truly their intention to throw people off and keep them guessing,” said Clara, who was part of the group who asked the board to investigate the incident.

Board members did release one finding at the meeting, attributing the incident to a “multifaceted breakdown of communication.”

Kristi Swett, president of the school board, told parents that while one of the reports is finalized, the other is still in a draft phase. The board decided it was best to wait until both reports were complete before releasing them to the public.

That’s expected to happen in two weeks. Jessica Ivins is a content manager for KSL.com and contributor to the Motherhood Matters section.

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