School board group joins fight over school meal rules
June 23, 2014 | 06:36 PM
By JERRY HAGSTROM
and ALEX GANGITANO
The National School Boards Association today joined the fight for some relief from the school meal rules under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, but the officials complained much more about reporting requirements than about the rules requiring healthier foods.
In a telephone news conference, the school board leaders endorsed a House Appropriations Committee-passed measure that would require the Agriculture Department to grant a waiver from the healthier meal rules to any school that says it has been losing money on meals for more than six months.
But the school board members from around the country devoted most of their time to talking about getting relief from the USDA’s implementation of the program.
The School Nutrition Association, which represents the school food service directors and the companies that prepare the foods, has backed the waiver and asked USDA to roll back certain requirements, but a wide range of nutrition and medical groups and many individual school food service directors, as well as First Lady Michelle Obama, say the government should stick with the healthier meals standards.
NSBA opposed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act when it came up in Congress in 2010, but the officials today did not call for its repeal.
Thomas Gentzel
“The federal over-reach is inappropriate,” NSBA’s Executive Director Thomas Gentzel said. “School boards are not looking to completely roll back these requirements … but the policy needs to be revisited.”
In the past, the training and skills for school food service workers have been left up to the states, Gentzel said, adding he doesn’t see “any good reason” the federal government should now set up training as they do under the new law.
Lucy Gettman
But Lucy Gettman, NSBA’s director of federal programs, signaled if the schools get some regulatory flexibility they do not want to give up any of the additional 6 cents per meal they have gotten when USDA says they are in compliance with the healthier meals rules.
The schools that are now in compliance and getting the 6 cents have not yet had to comply with all the rules, Gettman said.
Beginning July 1, school districts will have to document and report on snacks, beverages and a la carte items given to students to comply with the changes.
Anne Byrne
“We want the federal government to provide us with common-sense regulations,” said Anne Byrne, president of NSBA and a member of the Nanuet Union Free District in Pearl River, N.Y.
But Byrne added, “I don’t think anyone is disagreeing that we have to have higher standards.” She added, however, that it has sometimes been difficult to get the fruits and vegetables and that they are expensive.
The speakers called for flexibility from the USDA, saying portion sizes are too small for athletes and the amount of paper work for districts is massive.
Rocky Ahner
Every child now receives the same meal and “there should be a little bit of leeway on that,” Rocky Ahner, a member of the Lehighton Area School Board in Lehighton, Pa.
Ahner said he fears lower sodium foods will be more expensive and that his schools will have to hire more people to keep track of the foods that children are served, both in the regular school lunches and at other times.
The school board leaders defended the waiver proposal, saying the waiver would be temporary, focused on common sense, and hold schools accountable.
While the flexibility from the USDA is welcomed, the additional education and training requirements, school wellness plans, and other unimplemented provisions will create more burdens, Gettman said.
“I think it’s very clear some school districts are struggling and will need a little bit more time to get up to speed,” she said.
Katy Smith Campbell
Katy Smith Campbell, president of the Alabama Association of School Boards and a member of the Macon County Board of Education in Tuskegee, Ala., said her school had started changing its meals before the new federal requirements were established, and that after several years the children have become “acclimated” to whole-wheat hot dog buns.
But she said she worried the next round of regulations may make it difficult to serve chocolate milk.
“There is no little flexibility with the new guidelines,” she said, noting that due to the caloric limitations, school food workers cannot serve a second helping even to an athlete. Campbell acknowledged that the caloric limits are OK for students who “are not burning the calories.”
The USDA defended its school meals rule.
“With one-third of America’s children at risk for health problems due to being overweight or obese, it is critical that we continue providing healthier meals in schools,” a USDA spokeswoman said in an email.
“Over 90 percent of schools are meeting the healthy meal standards that were developed by pediatricians and other experts, and studies show the standards are working to help kids choose healthier foods,” she said.
“USDA has provided schools with additional funding, technical support, and common-sense flexibility where needed and will continue to do so. But providing waivers so schools can stop providing healthier meals altogether, just as childhood obesity rates are starting to level-off, is not the right answer.”
and ALEX GANGITANO
The National School Boards Association today joined the fight for some relief from the school meal rules under the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, but the officials complained much more about reporting requirements than about the rules requiring healthier foods.
In a telephone news conference, the school board leaders endorsed a House Appropriations Committee-passed measure that would require the Agriculture Department to grant a waiver from the healthier meal rules to any school that says it has been losing money on meals for more than six months.
But the school board members from around the country devoted most of their time to talking about getting relief from the USDA’s implementation of the program.
The School Nutrition Association, which represents the school food service directors and the companies that prepare the foods, has backed the waiver and asked USDA to roll back certain requirements, but a wide range of nutrition and medical groups and many individual school food service directors, as well as First Lady Michelle Obama, say the government should stick with the healthier meals standards.
NSBA opposed the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act when it came up in Congress in 2010, but the officials today did not call for its repeal.
“The federal over-reach is inappropriate,” NSBA’s Executive Director Thomas Gentzel said. “School boards are not looking to completely roll back these requirements … but the policy needs to be revisited.”
In the past, the training and skills for school food service workers have been left up to the states, Gentzel said, adding he doesn’t see “any good reason” the federal government should now set up training as they do under the new law.
But Lucy Gettman, NSBA’s director of federal programs, signaled if the schools get some regulatory flexibility they do not want to give up any of the additional 6 cents per meal they have gotten when USDA says they are in compliance with the healthier meals rules.
The schools that are now in compliance and getting the 6 cents have not yet had to comply with all the rules, Gettman said.
Beginning July 1, school districts will have to document and report on snacks, beverages and a la carte items given to students to comply with the changes.
“We want the federal government to provide us with common-sense regulations,” said Anne Byrne, president of NSBA and a member of the Nanuet Union Free District in Pearl River, N.Y.
But Byrne added, “I don’t think anyone is disagreeing that we have to have higher standards.” She added, however, that it has sometimes been difficult to get the fruits and vegetables and that they are expensive.
The speakers called for flexibility from the USDA, saying portion sizes are too small for athletes and the amount of paper work for districts is massive.
Rocky Ahner
Every child now receives the same meal and “there should be a little bit of leeway on that,” Rocky Ahner, a member of the Lehighton Area School Board in Lehighton, Pa.
Ahner said he fears lower sodium foods will be more expensive and that his schools will have to hire more people to keep track of the foods that children are served, both in the regular school lunches and at other times.
The school board leaders defended the waiver proposal, saying the waiver would be temporary, focused on common sense, and hold schools accountable.
While the flexibility from the USDA is welcomed, the additional education and training requirements, school wellness plans, and other unimplemented provisions will create more burdens, Gettman said.
“I think it’s very clear some school districts are struggling and will need a little bit more time to get up to speed,” she said.
Katy Smith Campbell, president of the Alabama Association of School Boards and a member of the Macon County Board of Education in Tuskegee, Ala., said her school had started changing its meals before the new federal requirements were established, and that after several years the children have become “acclimated” to whole-wheat hot dog buns.
But she said she worried the next round of regulations may make it difficult to serve chocolate milk.
“There is no little flexibility with the new guidelines,” she said, noting that due to the caloric limitations, school food workers cannot serve a second helping even to an athlete. Campbell acknowledged that the caloric limits are OK for students who “are not burning the calories.”
The USDA defended its school meals rule.
“With one-third of America’s children at risk for health problems due to being overweight or obese, it is critical that we continue providing healthier meals in schools,” a USDA spokeswoman said in an email.
“Over 90 percent of schools are meeting the healthy meal standards that were developed by pediatricians and other experts, and studies show the standards are working to help kids choose healthier foods,” she said.
“USDA has provided schools with additional funding, technical support, and common-sense flexibility where needed and will continue to do so. But providing waivers so schools can stop providing healthier meals altogether, just as childhood obesity rates are starting to level-off, is not the right answer.”
