New state nutrition rules to impact school snacks

Parents of Canton schoolchildren who plan to send in snacks and treats for classroom parties will be limited in their choices as a result of new state-mandated nutrition standards that are set to take effect this year.

All schools are in the process of implementing the new standards, and the state departments of education and public health are requiring school committees to enforce an approved snack list created by each community’s wellness committee.

Canton Public Schools’ nurse leader Janet Donnelly and K-12 wellness coordinator Katherine Swanson informed the School Committee of the new health and wellness requirements at the committee’s meeting last Thursday, July 26.

In a document entitled “Healthy Students, Healthy Schools,” the DPH outlines its revised guidelines for implementing school nutrition standards. The DPH has established standards for foods and beverages sold or provided in public schools during the school day, including the 30 minutes prior to the start of school and the 30 minutes after the final bell.

The new standards impact a la carte items sold in school cafeterias as well as vending machines and school stores and snack bars. Vending machines will essentially be limited to offering plain water.

The standards do not apply to foods and beverages sold as part of school breakfast or lunch programs. The standards do not apply to items sold or provided at booster sales, concession stands, and school-sponsored fundraisers and events.

While the DPH is not dictating what kinds of foods parents can send in for their own children, the new policy does address snacks that are sent in for the whole class and for school field trips.

Donnelly and Swanson will be working with Superintendent Jeff Granatino and school administrators in forming a list of approved snacks that will be disseminated to parents at the start of the school year.

The updated policy did not please School Committee Chairman John Bonnanzio, who has long argued that the state and federal governments should not be dictating to parents and communities what food should be given to children.

When Donnelly told Bonnanzio that he has to support the policy and not to be a “Debbie Downer” about the information, Bonnanzio replied that the state is “putting a gun to [their] heads” and therefore he would support it. “But speaking as some guy off the street,” he said, “this is just crazy. Don’t expect me to be a cheerleader for this.”

“I really would like to see what’s in the vending machines at the Department of Public Health,” he added.

Committee members Reuki Schutt and Cindy Thomas agreed that the policy should not make the School Committee and school department the “food police” and suggested that the wellness committee go easy on the enforcement and not take punitive actions. “I would prefer the more lenient approach,” said Thomas.

In other news:

* Granatino announced that the Norfolk County Mosquito Control Program was due to conduct air and ground spraying of all school fields on Wednesday, August 1, around 4 a.m.

Granatino said he also plans to meet with Athletic Director Danny Erickson to discuss how the mosquito threat — which has been raised to high after mosquitoes in Canton tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis — will impact the start of the CHS fall athletic season as well as the first week of practices.

A few years ago, a similar mosquito threat canceled all evening sporting events and moved Friday night football games to Saturday afternoon until the first frost arrived.

* School Business Manager Ken Leon reported that the current school budget, despite assistance from the Finance Committee, has a shortfall of $81,133 because of the recently approved contract with the Canton Teachers Association. To make up the deficit, the committee approved the following non-instructional cuts: $20,000 from school busing fuel adjustment charges; $10,173 for an after-school supervisor at CHS; $20,000 from the Athletic Department revolving account for additional trainer costs; and $30,000 for a part-time plumber position.

* The price of school lunches will go up 25 cents this fall as mandated by the federal government. Lunches will now cost $2.25 at elementary schools, $2.50 at the middle school, and $2.75 at the high school. There is no change in the price for milk.

* Granatino reported water damage at the high school caused by a leak in a condenser behind one of the water bubblers on the second floor. He said there is damage to a few rooms as well as to tiles in certain parts of the halls on the first and second floors. The school has hired a company to repair the damages, and construction will be conducted over the next few weeks. Granatino said the cost of the repairs will be covered through insurance.

* Gill Lentol, a parent of a recently promoted JFK student, has offered to donate materials for whiteboards and bulletin boards for the JFK addition. The installation will be completed by school staff under the direction of facilities director Brian Lynch and will save the school $5,820.

* The committee will soon meet with selectmen to fill the vacancies created by the resignations of Liz Salisbury and Jill Stevens. The appointments will be made prior to the committee’s next meeting on Thursday, August 30.

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Posted by Mike Berger on Aug 1 2012. Filed under News, Schools. Both comments and pings are currently closed.