Healthy Cafeteria Options Meet With Early Success in Webster Groves

In December of last year, Congress passed the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act (aka Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act) that outlined new provisions for breakfast and lunch at school districts across the country to be implemented by the 2012-2013 school year.

Luckily, the vast changes were foreseen by Chartwells, the food service provider for the Webster Groves School District, and the district has begun implementing the new requirements well in advance of the USDA deadline, according to a presentation to school board members at the board's regular meeting earlier this week.

"We're still deep frying at the High School ... and that has to go," said Theresa Boettler, Food Service Director for the district, who was joined by Chartwells District Manager Sheila Magee in outlining the new guidelines.

A combination of increased fresh fruit, vegetable and whole grain portions with a decrease in foods with high sodium, sugar and unhealthy fat content highlighted the changes.

Boettler said elementary and middle schools are performing ahead of schedule and that kids are loving hummus, a new menu item.

After conducting taste tests, hummus is now offered regularly, and, after good reception at the Webster Groves High School and Hixson Middle School, rice bowls will be offered as well, the food service director told Kirkwood-Webster Groves Patch. 

"The high school kids are not very happy about not having Papa Johns pizza anymore, but by Christmas next year frying should be phased out completely, and overall we're way ahead," Boettler told board members.

Magee stressed that parents and students should post any comments or questions they have about the changes in cuisine on the DESE website, where they can find several documents detailing the changes, especially pertaining to the changes in milk offerings and suggesting increased funding for fresh fruits and veggies, which tend to cost more.

Board member Amy O'Brien voiced concerns about extra-curricular programs that don't offer healthier alternatives, citing a recent example of donuts being the only option for students.

"I'm not saying kids should never have a donut, but that it was the only thing offered ... I think there could be some more education (with this new material)," she said.

"Fair Tax" not so fair to underprivileged

In other board news, members voted into effect a resolution that opposes the Missouri legislature's possible passing of a so-called "Fair Tax." According to board president Michael Kearney, the proposed legislation would cut funding to school districts across the state, including Webster, "thereby harming the quality of education we are able to provide...and districts are already facing one of the most difficult financial situations in years."

The concept, which has been debated in Missouri for several years, calls for an elimination of the state's income tax and replacing it with a substantial increase in state sales tax (to about 7 percent) to attract more business to the state.

The Missouri State Board of Education asked school boards across the state to sign a resolution opposing the legislation because the law would "unfairly burden those with lower income, which they would now have to spend on sales tax for goods and services that they desperately need," Assistant Superintendent Diane Moore said.

After more analysis, lawmakers found that the tax would actually have to be "around 13 percent," according to Moore, in order to cover the shortfall of cutting the income tax.

"Border hopping is also a real concern," Moore said, adding that neighboring states with lower sales tax rates could easily entice people living close to state lines to move, which would resulting in lower revenue and profits for the state and businesses, respectively.

"This just seems so counterproductive when the state is already in a crisis financially, while an increase in cigarette tax, which is already low in Missouri and an Internet sales tax don't seem to be thoughtfully considered," O'Brien said.