Jul 30, 2014 2 min read

South Fayette School Board voted last week to opt out of the federal school lunch program for the 2014-15 to keep prices at the present level.

Food service director Tricia Wood recommended maintaining prices and a la carte options due to costs the district would take on from adhering to updated federal requirements regarding sodium, fat and whole grains, although she said the district will offer healthy menu items.

“I want to take this year to assess and find changes where we can make them,” Wood said.

“The (food) manufacturers are still playing catch-up on the new standards, and it’s costing us. We’ll still have healthy options, just not so strict that they cannot have different grains or white bread. We’ll still have a vegetarian option and new multicultural dishes that many other schools wouldn’t even attempt,” she explained.

Board member Jennifer Iriti asked what would be done to ensure “the intent of the federal lunch program” is met.

“I just want to have the lunch room complement, or help replace healthy eating education classes as is the goal, and for that to be kept in mind,” Iriti said.

Wood responded that throughout the year her staff will evaluate smart technology, like phone apps or a computer screen in the lunch room, which would give customized calorie and nutritional information to students based on what they bought for lunch.

During discussions of athletics agenda items, board member Teresa Burroughs abstained on a vote that passed for the payment of $9,200 to Southbridge EMS for emergency medical services at district football and soccer games through 2016.

“Why are basketball and track not on here?” she asked the board.

“Sometimes there is just as much contact, and last year, someone had a heart attack at a visiting site. These are sometimes life or death matters.”

Board President Len Fornella said he would investigate to ensure the teams have medical assistance on the sidelines.