School’s Facebook post ‘lacked empathy’; draws backlash

LEBANON, Ohio (WXIX) - A Tri-State school district is apologizing after a “poorly worded” social media post received backlash.

Donovan Elementary posted on Facebook Thursday about the ice cream social they had planned for its third and fourth graders.

The social media post explained that not all students would be allowed to get ice cream, which angered many.

“A student must have money on their account to purchase an ice cream,” Thursday’s post read. “If a student has a negative balance, they will not be able to purchase an ice cream even if they bring their $1 for ice cream. Students are only allowed to purchase one ice cream and are not permitted to buy an ice cream for a friend.”

The post was shared more than 645 times on Facebook.

”I checked the page out myself so that I could read all the comments and was just shocked at what I read and how many people were outraged,” said Julie, a parent of a third-grade student.

Naiyozcsia King, who owns Mz. Jade’s Soul Food restaurant in Middletown, saw the post and called the school because she wanted to help.

“So, I reached out to the school,” explained King. “I prayed before I reached out to the school, and I’m like, ‘Lord, let me talk to the right person because I know they’ve been getting thousands of calls.’”

Her prayer was answered when the school district allowed her to pay $411 to bring every student’s account up to date.

”I have been a parent that has had a balance with a school system before,” said King. “So immediately, and I didn’t have it then, but I have it now, to be a change. So, that’s why I did it because I was one of those parents before. So, I could relate.”

The school district released a statement responding to the social media post:

Yesterday, a poorly worded message was communicated on Donovan Elementary’s Facebook page about Ice Cream Friday.
It lacked empathy and sensitivity. The message fell short of our district values of building a reflective, responsible, and respectful community. The wording lacked empathy and sensitivity for students who have low or negative meal account balances.
We work very hard to provide school lunches to students by removing barriers and eliminating the stigma associated with the lunch assistance program. The Facebook post inadvertently sent the message that we would embarrass students or turn them away for an issue outside their control. We do allow students to charge lunch because good nutrition is essential to learning, and children forget or lose their money.
Every student at Donovan received an ice cream or other treat at lunch today.
We appreciate the positive outpouring of support. Many of our Warrior families, Lebanon community members, and strangers have offered to donate funds to pay off student meal balances. We have partnered with Neighborhood Bridges to accept donations to offset negative lunch balances: https://www.neighborhoodbridges.org/community/lebanon-oh.
I sincerely apologize for the way the information was communicated.”
Lebanon City Schools.

The community is also stepping in to help.

King says the lunch account with the school is up more than $4,000 so the kids at Donovan have a lot of ice cream coming their way the rest of the school year.

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