School board asks for revised ‘wellness policy’
Boulder Valley officials to bring back new draft in August
By Vanessa Miller
Tuesday, June 23, 2009

BOULDER, Colo. — Boulder Valley school board members said Tuesday that they’re largely in support of a proposed “wellness policy” that aims to establish and maintain lifelong healthy-eating habits for students by promoting nutritious food in every aspect of the school experience.

But some board members expressed concern over “prescriptive” language in the draft policy that, for example, says K-8 students “will not be involved in, or have access to, the sale of candy, sodas, cookies and sweets at any school-sponsored event or for any fundraising activity.”

Board member Laurie Albright said some parts of the proposed policy read like “hard-and-fast rules,” and she asked the district’s interim director of nutrition services, Ann Cooper — who drafted the policy — to make some language changes. Albright requested that Cooper make allowances in the policy for cookies after middle-school plays and cake on band trips, for instance.

“You might try language that says, ‘Under certain celebrations, (treats) could be allowed or permitted,” Albright said.

Board member Jim Reed also expressed some discomfort with several proposed wellness goals and posed questions about portions of the proposal addressing “potentially harmful” food additives, “attractively presented” meals and “pleasant” eating environments.

Reed said he supports eliminating unhealthy food from all school-sponsored events.

“But why just for K-8?” he said. “Why not make that a goal for the whole district?”

Cooper said she’ll consider those recommendations and others from board and community members and come back with a revised version of the proposed policy in August.

In addition to prohibiting the sale of sweets at school-sponsored events and fundraising activities, the proposal also advises parents to follow the district’s health goals when bringing treats for parties, bake sales or ice cream socials. Among the suggested health goals is to eliminate potentially harmful food additives like growth hormones, hydrogenated oils and high-fructose corn syrup from food offered to students at school.

Cooper told board members Tuesday night that there are “no mandates, no bans and no demands.” Instead, she said, the hope is that school community members will come together and make smart decisions about “what is best for our students.”

And while several board members had criticisms of the draft proposal, board member Helayne Jones expressed gratitude and support of its mission and concept.

“I am so proud of the work that we are doing, and that’s what this community should be celebrating today instead of worrying about whether their children are going to get a cupcake on their birthday,” she said.

Jones said she’s glad the board is recognizing a link between nutrition and academic achievement.

“We are actually going public with this amazing revelation that when kids are well-fed and healthy, they learn better,” Jones said. “That is basic common sense, and I think it’s great that we are actually doing something about it.”

Several parents and students who attended the meeting also said they’re excited for the changes and support a dramatic school-food transformation.

“I’m so happy they’re looking at all the food — not just cafeteria food, but food at the concession stand and snack bar,” said Beth Oden, who has a first-grader at Bear Creek Elementary in Boulder.

© 2006 Daily Camera and Boulder Publishing, LLC.