LAKELAND, FL (CNN/RNN) - A Florida school included a fundraising document in the students' orientation packets that caused a ruckus among parents. But the school system said it was all a big mistake.
Donations at various levels included certain perks, one of which was allowing children of parents donating $100 or more to go to the front of the lunch line.
Parents took to social media to express outrage over what many called "classism." The principal joined in, saying he did not approve the letter and was unaware that it was distributed to the student body.
"You've got those who can pay and those who can't," said an angry parent, who felt students whose parents couldn't afford to pay $100 would be disrespected and open to ridicule.
Principal Brian Andrews said he strives to include every child and decried the system that separated students based on monetary contributions.
"Nobody's a second-class citizen here," said Andrews, who is entering his fourth year as principal at Lawton Chiles Middle Academy. "This definitely hits home for me, and I am very upset about it."
The Parent Teacher Studcent Association said it's all their fault. The PTSA, which distributed the letter, said it was just a clerical error, and the program will not be going forward.
The document was accidentally placed in orientation packets, and the principal never signed off for it, the PTSA said.
Not all parents were appeased by the admission.
“Who allowed unapproved documents to be distributed to 300 some-odd students without having read it?" One parent said. “It’s about respecting people."
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