TULLAHOMA, Tenn. (WKRN) — Social media posts about the cafeteria inside Tullahoma High School (THS) are not an accurate reflection of the lunchtime offerings of the school, the school system said.
Thursday evening, images of an empty school lunch buffet at the high school started circulating on social media, sparking outrage among parents in the community.
Parents like Brooke Loomes said the empty lunch buffets were “unacceptable” for children like her daughter, who attends THS.
“This is unacceptable for our kids to go with out food when we get a grant to feed them,” she said on social media, sharing the images her daughter sent her of the school cafeteria.
However, school officials said the images have been taken out of context.
Zach Birdsong, communications specialist for Tullahoma City Schools, said no student went without the option of food at THS.
“All students were provided a meal option, and no student was turned away from receiving a lunch,” Birdsong said in a statement provided to News 2. “The images captured on social media are after the lunch service ended and do not accurately reflect the lunch time options available at Tullahoma High School on Thursday. At the top of the photograph, students are visibly seen seated and eating after picking up their meal.”
Further, Birdsong said, there was larger attendance at the school, meaning more students had a hot meal option, and school staff take time to pre-plan meals before breaks. Tullahoma City Schools spring break began Friday and runs through March 21, according to the school calendar.
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“The day before any major break, each cafeteria team plans meals with the hopes of not having excessive amounts remaining. On a positive note, more students were in attendance and, as a result, the main meal options were limited from the usual menu, and those options ran our prior to the last few students going through the line,” Birdsong said. “The cafeteria staff provided fast pass (grab and go) meals on the spot for the students who did not get the pre-planned options. The cafeteria staff had to pivot to make another meal option for the last students through the line and they ensured that all students had the option to receive a meal.”
