Low-income children shamed by cheese sandwich policy

Via Chicago Tribune:

Faced with mounting unpaid lunch charges, Albuquerque Public Schools last month instituted a “cheese sandwich policy,” serving a cold cheese sandwich, fruit and a milk carton to children whose parents are supposed to pay for some or all of their regular meals but fail to pick up the tab.

There is a lot that is troubling about this policy, but the main thing is the idea of making kids suffer because of their parents financial situations. Not only would this policy have a nutritional affect on the kids (since they don’t get the variety offered by the hot lunch options) it also has a shaming affect, singling them out and making it clear to their peers that they are poor.
Tactics like this are becoming necessary in a worsening financial environment but it’s sad to see that low-income children are the first to suffer.
What do you all think?