Taking treats off the table

School district looking at forbidding the sale of sweets and use of treats as rewards in classrooms.The days of candy and doughnut sales to raise money for Laguna’s schools could be coming to a close, if new nutritional guidelines for the district are approved.

In a meeting Dec. 7 on the proposed student wellness policy at Thurston Middle School, parents and teachers gathered to discuss the development of a new policy that will go into effect for the 2006-07 school year.

The policy is mandated by new federal standards for student health and nutrition that seek to reduce the number of children in America suffering from obesity and diabetes.

Leading the talk was district food services supervisor Debra Appel, who wishes to help create a policy that not only abides by federal law but also gains the approval of the community.

“Without community support, we’re going to have a hard time getting to where we want to be,” Appel said.The district has been working on the policy since April 2004, and, according to Appel, it is well ahead of the curve.

The new policy sets requirements for nutritional education, physical activity, campus food provision and other school-based activities.

Appel does not expect changes to be made in the school’s current menu selection, which is already within recommended guidelines.

“In the 13 years I’ve been here, we have never [served] fried foods,” Appel said.

Issues open to debate for the new policy concern food sold at charity events and whether teachers should hand out candy as a reward to students.

The selling of junk food for fundraising events is a tradition that Appel would like to have reconsidered.

“Everything consumed by students in the school day should be analyzed,” Appel said.

Though many parents object to items such as Krispy Kreme doughnuts being sold at school events, Appel said parents as a group are split on the topic.

“People want to raise money and candy is cheap,” Appel said.

The district has not sold candy or soda for three years, though the treats are allowed to be brought in by students, Appel said.

Changes in the school’s curriculum for health and nutrition as well as physical education are also on the table.

Proposals to integrate health education with other school subjects are currently being considered.

“There’s a lot of science in baking,” Appel said.

Other key components, according to Appel, would be to have wellness committees for each school site, and to give each student the ability to go online and access an individual student profile to track health.