Your video helped inspire the following resolution which our local PTA will submit to IL PTA for approval at their March convention.  The resolution is intended to engage the Illinois school community in a legislative initiative to support development of local agricultural economies statewide.  I’ve suggested to Farm to School program’s Marion Kalb and National PTA’s Whitney Meagher that the resolution may also be a useful template outside of Illinois.  

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, District 65 and District 202 serve approximately 4,000 meals per day at a cost ranging from $2.49 to $4.00 per meal, and with more than 75 percent of the meals subsidized by the federal government to ensure that low-income children receive an indispensable source of nutrition;

WHEREAS, the two districts’ “free” and “reduced” meal programs are administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National School Lunch Program which spends $8 billion a year to feed 30 million children in a country whose citizens’ annual spending includes [[check these #; add indirect costs from NIH sources]] $100 billion on dietary aids and $200 billion to treat diet-related illnesses; and

WHEREAS, the Child Nutrition and WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires all schools that receive federal funding for their school meal programs to involve a committee of parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, the school board, school administrators, and the public in developing and implementing local wellness policies that incorporate nutrition, physical fitness, and curriculum; and

WHEREAS, both Districts 65 and District 202 have wellness committees created for the purpose of meeting these federal requirements; and

WHEREAS, District 65 and District 202 administrators recognize an improvement in the nutritional value of the school meal programs over the last five years in response to USDA guidelines requiring menus that include more fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains, as well as foods with reduced fat, low sodium, high fiber, and reduced or zero trans fat; and the elimination of fried foods;

WHEREAS, this improvement is the result of USDA and food manufacturers responding to the demand from school nutrition program administrators, public health professionals, parents, students and others whose goals include ending a childhood obesity epidemic that is contributing to cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes; and

WHEREAS, the Obama administration is committed to improving and expanding federal nutrition programs in order to help “reduce hunger and poverty, prevent obesity, strengthen schools and child care programs, and boost children’s health, development and school achievement;” and

WHEREAS,  there are 2,016 farm-to-school programs nationwide, involving 2,039 school districts and 8,776 schools from 40 states in local efforts to continue to improve school meal programs by building on the connection between healthy food, wellness and learning; and

WHEREAS, the economic development potential of increasing the supply of fresh and healthy foods for consumption in nearby public institutions such as schools is among the factors that has led at least 10 state governments to form advisory food councils that convene stakeholders representing all links of the food chain to collaborate on efforts to increase the percentage of food grown, processed and consumed within the boundaries of a particular state; and 

WHEREAS, the Illinois Food, Farm and Jobs Act of 2007 created the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force which has found that Illinois consumers spend approximately $48 billion in annual food expenditures, of which more than 90 percent is “exported” out of state; and

WHEREAS, the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force is presenting a plan to the Illinois General Assembly in the 2009 legislative session to show what steps the Illinois state government can take to help build a local agricultural economy—including the formation of a permanent advisory food policy council whose charges will include reforming “institutional food procurement policies to encourage and facilitate the purchase of local farm and food products to the maximum extent practicable;” and

WHEREAS, institutions addressed by the legislation may include public entities with cafeterias such as public schools, universities, hospitals, and correctional facilities, as well as non-governmental organizations that receive funding from public sources such as the USDA Child Nutrition program (summer programs, child care centers, etc.); and

WHEREAS, methods for reforming procurement policies may include purchasing preferences and/or exemptions when a local supply of food is available in sufficient quantity, is of equal quality, and reasonably exceeds the lowest bid; and

WHEREAS, reform may take place in stages, with an initial emphasis on the procurement of Illinois food products that are strategically positioned to satisfactorily fulfill demand; and

WHEREAS, the Task Force also recommends the establishment of a Farm-to-Cafeteria coordinating position in conjunction with legislation to identify and facilitate key linkages between the Department of Agriculture, food growers and distributors, institutional food service personnel, federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and private foundations.

WHEREAS, the proposed farm-to-cafeteria program initiative will benefit from collaborative efforts among and between various Illinois state agencies and departments, including 1) the Illinois Department of Public Health’s Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) program which facilitates local school efforts to promote physical activity, prevent tobacco use and encourage healthy food choices; 2) the Illinois School Board of Education’s meal program which…[ISBE to add language] and 3) the Illinois Department of Agriculture whose Ag in the Classroom program…[IDOA to add language]

WHEREAS, the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) reports that  governmental collaboration requires “agencies to define and articulate the common purpose or outcome they seek to achieve” through such means as  “establishing mutually reinforcing or joint strategies; identifying and addressing needs by leveraging resources; establishing compatible policies and procedures; developing mechanisms to monitor, evaluate, and report on results.”

RESOLVED that the Illinois PTA encourage PTA members to contact members of the Illinois General Assembly and urge their support for findings of the Illinois Local and Organic Food and Farm Task Force that will help school districts achieve wellness goals;

RESOLVED that the Illinois PTA encourage PTA members to contact members of the Illinois General Assembly and urge that such efforts to help school districts achieve wellness goals be used by the new administration of Gov. Pat Quinn to foster the creation of what U.S. GAO calls “a crosscutting, departmental strategic goal to guide various agencies;”

RESOLVED that that Illinois PTA encourage PTA members to contact members of the Illinois congressional delegation and urge their support for USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and his stated desire to work “with those who seek programs and practices that lead to more nutritious food produced in a sustainable way;”

RESOLVED that that Illinois PTA encourage PTA members to contact members of the Illinois congressional delegation and urge their support for provisions in the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act of 2004 that will help ensure that all schools have the resources to serve fresh and healthy meals; provide high-quality nutrition education; and to engage their local communities in the development and implementation of effective wellness programs.