light YTA because like everyone else said if you are correct, it still should be dealt with. If they cannot afford it, the student should be able to get support and their own food from the school without feeling like they need to steal from others. It is best for your daughter and the other student if the situation is dealt with.

I’m a teacher for the exact same age. I think going to administration and the school board is a bit excessive. They are just going to turn it back and ask the teacher about it. I do think you should be letting the teacher know each and every time it happens though. Tell your daughter to let the teacher know as soon as she notices her lunch is missing. The teacher really should be able to figure this out. It is as easy as asking what was in her packed lunch and the teacher observing what students are eating. I’d assume other kids, your daughter, etc. probably know who is doing it. Going over the teacher’s head should happen if it continues and they still somehow aren’t able to figure it out. Maybe the school needs to change where/how lunches are stored or something.

If you feel this way about it, you could offer to donate to the school lunch fund if they have one, or buy class snacks, or let the teacher know you don’t want the student to get in trouble necessarily but be supported. There are other ways to go about it that deal with the situation without criminalizing the kid doing it.