Santa Cruz Education Foundation supports the district’s new Wellness Policy and the collaborative effort to bring healthy food to Santa Cruz City Schools
After decades of serving food that few of us would be willing to eat, let alone serve to our families, our school district is taking steps toward reform of food services. Through the work of the district’s Wellness Committee, a collaborative group of parents, trustees, staff, community members, the Education Foundation and business people, the district will receive a new Wellness Policy and an assessment of food services by a nationally known expert in healthy school food.
On Wednesday, January 28th, both the new Wellness Policy and the completed food services audit will be presented to the School Board and public. Our school leaders are demonstrating remarkable courage and leadership, undertaking a tough self-assessment during challenging times. To sustain the momentum toward change, the district will need support from the community. Parents, students and community members are encouraged to attend the board meeting on January 28th, 6:30 p.m. at the Branciforte Small Schools Campus.
The Wellness Policy (click here to download a draft), establishes the framework for food reform. The policy draws connections between the classroom, curriculum and the drive to promote lifelong healthy food choices and good fitness habits. The policy takes the stand that no child will go hungry while in our schools; that our schools will provide fresh, healthy foods; that nutrition education will be integrated into our curriculum; and that schools will take steps to limit access to unhealthy food and beverages.
The food service assessment will be presented this Wednesday by chefs Beth Collins and Coleen Donnelly of Local Plates, LLC. Also on hand to speak will be chef Ann Cooper, known nationwide for her work reforming meals in Berkeley schools. As a partner with the Wellness Committee, the Education Foundation has reviewed the Executive Summary of the audit (download it here). It presents an unflinching review of the state of our current meal service and outlines both short- and long-term steps necessary to bring fresh, healthy appealing food to our schools.
The Education Foundation supports Santa Cruz City Schools in food service reform. This will be a multi-year, multi-stage endeavor, requiring broad support from our community both in terms of advocacy and funding. We hope you will join us on Wednesday, January 28th to speak out in support of these initial steps towards healthy food and healthy kids.
SCCS Board of Education Meeting
January 28, 2009, 6:30 p.m. (first item on agenda)
Branciforte Small Schools Campus, 840 N. Branciforte
Want to know more? Want to be part of School Food Reform in Santa Cruz? Contact us.
It is curous to me that information regarding how SCCS modified the district food project during budget crisis in 2007 at which time all school kitchens were under construction to support the Sodexo food yet again, SCCS is modifying their food program. Stop spending my money wastefully by modifying food programs put it toward modifying math programs
This is wonderful news! I have had children in elementary school, middle school and high school; from my years of observation, not one family able to pay for school lunches participates regularly. Done right, this should *make* money for the district. Frankly, I’m surprised to see a public institution thinking like entrepreneurs. Not to mention that it is unconscionable that we feed our needy children devastatingly unhealthy food.
Keep us posted. MANY in the community will want to help!
Thank you for making school lunch a priority. By offering food served to our children that contains better nutritional quality, our children will not be getting sicker (weight gain, diabetes) and their academic performance will improve (better brain function).
Schools need support in educating the parents about good nutrition, also.
Let me know how I can help!
Thank you so much for working on our school lunch program! I have a kindergartener and a 6th grader. My children rarely eat hot lunch …there are too many days of meat for non-meateaters, and the food is not very healthy. We would be thrilled to see better, fresher and healthier choices! I would love to help in any way I can to provide our children with more nutritious food! Thank you!