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KINGSTON — Money that has been offered to pay overdue lunch bills at Wyoming Valley West School district will be accepted after all, through the district’s Educational Foundation, School Board President Joe Mazur said.

Mazur said a letter is going out and has been posted on the foundation’s website. Donation offers have been coming in “from all over,” he added, including one from Todd Carmichael, founder and CEO of Philadelphia-based La Colombe coffee roasters to pay the entire $22,400 owed by about 1,000 people.

Carmichael’s spokesman Aren Platt said Wednesday evening that the offer remains but that some discussions have to occur with people from the district and the foundation, and that the lateness in the day meant details may not be ironed out before Thursday morning. “We are very optimistic,” he added.

The letter posted on the district website apologizes “for the tone” of a previous letter that had warned parents could see their children end up in foster care if bills were not paid, a threat that sparked national attention and outcry. It also prompted Carmichael to make his offer.

The apology letter also says the School Board contacted Michael Plaksin, president of the Wyoming Valley West Educational Foundation, and that the board and Plaskin agreed to accept Carmichael’s offer through the nonprofit foundation.

Such foundations are usually set up to accept money used for school supplies or other educational items through the state’s Educational Income Tax Credit program, which gives tax credits to donors.

The apology letter also notes, as Federal Programs Director Joseph Muth had pointed out after the controversy began, that money for meals will no longer be an issue this fall because the district’s percentage of low income students has risen high enough to qualify all schools for the federal Community Eligibility Provision of the free and reduced lunch program administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The letter defends the administration of the lunch program even when bills were not being paid, insisting every child still got a full meal, none were shamed, and all regulations from USDA and the Pennsylvania Department of Education were followed.

The full letter:

The Wyoming Valley West School District Board of Directors sincerely apologizes for the tone of the letter that was sent regarding lunch debt. It wasn’t the intention of the district to harm or inconvenience any of the families of our school district.

We want to thank everyone for their concern and generous donation offers to help pay for the unpaid lunch bills.

We would like to acknowledge Mr. Todd Carmichael’s generous offer. We have been in touch with Michael Plaksin, president of the Wyoming Valley West Educational Foundation (previously established to benefit the students of our district). After discussions with Mr. Plaksin and all members of the Wyoming Valley West School Board, we have decided to accept Mr. Carmichael’s generous donation. It will be directed to the Wyoming Valley West Educational Foundation to eliminate the debt owed by the parents.

We would like to thank all who have offered to donate. Your generosity is overwhelming. For any questions regarding the Foundation, please refer to www.wvweducationalfoundation.org.

For the first time our district fully qualifies for the Community Eligibility Program. As a result, all students of the Wyoming Valley West School District will receive free breakfast and lunch in all of our schools for the next five years regardless of income. No student was ever denied a meal for lack of payment.

Wyoming Valley West School District followed all USDA and PDE regulations. All meals served to students were chosen by the students from our regular menu. No shaming occurred and no alternate meals were provided.

Again, please accept our sincere apology for any harm or inconvenience the letter caused.

The Wyoming Valley West School Board

Joseph A. Mazur, President

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By Mark Guydish

[email protected]

Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish