The New Hanover County Board of Education discussed a handful of policy revisions during a Sept. 2 meeting, including a policy restricting the type of food sold on campus during school hours and a policy limiting community use of school property.
Changes to the food policy were required to stay in compliance with the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. The school system receives federal funding for school breakfasts and lunches through the act.
Under the revised foods policy, all food and beverages sold to students while the cafeteria is open must follow the nutritional standards outlined in the law. Before the change, schools and vendors were encouraged but not required to offer healthy choices to students.
Food and beverages sold while the cafeteria is closed until 30 minutes after the end of the school day are not subject to the new policy. Food brought from home is not regulated, either.
An amendment to the act, effective July 1, 2014, spurred the action.
Although board members voiced concerns ranging from the types of food allowed under the nutritional standards to the unnecessary burden of federal mandates, the policy was approved immediately after its first reading to allow superintendent Tim Markley to submit the school system’s selection to the proper authorities by Sept. 16.
Concerns raised during the board’s discussion of the facility use policy prevented that policy from moving forward.
The board first considered the existing policy, which waives facility use fees for state agencies and film crews using school property, during a July 2 meeting, when it was returned to the policy committee the first time. The committee then discussed the policy during an Aug. 18 meeting, bringing it back to the board with changes that allow the superintendent flexibility to approve preauthorized projects that pay early and prevent school association with the slant of any political filming on campus.
The board raised new concerns during the Sept. 2 meeting. Board member Ed Higgins requested a sentence restricting use of Brodgen Hall to athletic events to limit use of all gymnasiums and school athletic facilities. Board member Janice Cavenaugh took issue with the year-by-year renewal process for organizations using school property, citing churches that she said gently use and even fund improvements to school property.
All board members were encouraged to attend the next policy committee meeting to ensure the next round of revisions address all concerns with the policy.
Discussion on the policy was initiated when film crews used John T. Hoggard High School as a location for “Max Steel” in May. Film crews often donate money to the schools as a gesture of gratitude, typically offering more than fees charged to use the facilities.
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