Parents: Let Us Say What Our Kids Can Eat at School

After Monday's board of education meeting where board members were again confronted by parents expressing concerns about schools' policies on snack foods, a group of teachers leaving the meeting were discussing the challenges they face.

"I never allow pizza in my classroom," one teacher said, adding she banned it after checking into the fat content in a slice of cheese pizza. "But then I go into the cafeteria, and they're serving pizza."

It's one of the examples of the mismatch between what's policy, what's practice—and what's a problem in schools. After a series of parents of children with food allergies spoke to the board, most asking for the opportunity to review foods planned for parties and classroom activities with an eye toward giving approval for their kids to enjoy the foods with other students, board members concluded the issue isn't in district policies.

"I think more of the frustration is coming from the communication on this," board member Jennifer Haley said.

Stephen Way residents David and Kelly Haase offered a three-step request for the board to approve, after Woods Road School officials changed the way they were interpreting the district's policies. Their suggestion started with getting consistent interpretation of rules for snacks, parties and foods brought to schools, then the opportunity for parents to authorize their children's consumption of foods brought in, followed by a move toward "food free" events.

The food free option was supported by most of the parents, with several referencing other districts which encourage craft events or other celebrations without snacks.

Which board members said was fine with them—Greg Gillette said he thought teachers could just tell parents and students at the beginning of the school year how birthdays and holiday parties will be handled, and that's that.

"I don't understand how these 'cupcake parties' are being perpetuated," he said.

Teachers in the audience gave him the answer: it's the parents.

Hillcrest Road parent Scott Loper, a registered dietitian, said it's a tradition that many parents are carrying on from their childhoods.

"It was a mistake then, we just didn't know as much as we do now," he said. "Why should we continue to make the mistake?"

Board President Thomas Kinst said the board wanted to encourage schools to have parents share snack and food ingredients with teachers and other parents ahead of classroom events so that parents of students with food allergies can authorize their kids to partake, if it's possible. 

"We need to close the loop on our side," he said.

Kinst directed the board's Education Committee to review the ways schools are implementing the snack plans and work with the administration to make consistent interpretations.

"We're trying to achieve a balance between those with life-threatening allergies, to try and keep them safe, but also give parents the choice and responsibility," Kinst said.