The School District of Menomonee Falls is moving in a different direction regarding healthy snacks for children.
During the Oct. 11 School Board meeting, School Board member Lori Blodorn indicated that “a lot of has happened with that.”
During the June 13 School Board meeting, a “healthy snack list” was presented to the board as part of discussion by a nutrition committee. The list was based on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services and the Healthier School Challenge. The policy that was being developed at the time called for sending out the packet to parents at the start of the school year.
“The policy will kind of be: We’d like you to stick to this list when you’re sending a snack to school based on nutritional value, trying to promote more whole grains, fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and protein-rich snacks,” District Nurse Julie Italiano-Thomas said during the June 13 meeting.
Under the policy that was being developed by the Nutrition Committee at the time, snacks not on the list would be sent home with a note to parents regarding snacks that aren’t on the list.
During the June 27 School Board meeting, board member Faith VanderHorst indicated the proposal was sent to the Policy Committee for further review.
“It needs to be communicated to staff to put a hold on this,” VanderHorst said at the June 27 meeting.  She then hinted that “there are some things that may be suggestions instead of formal mandates.”
During the Oct 11 meeting, Blodorn said the Nutrition Committee met with Kathy Zarling, the director of pupil services, at the end of the summer and later reported to the Policy Committee.
“Essentially, we have a number of different policy issues that were being all bundled up into a single solution,” Blodorn said. “Essentially, what we have is a school wellness policy — that’s not going to come forward with any significant changes —which encourages wellness and nutrition.”
Blodorn also said that the Policy Committee has requested to continue work of improving the school nutrition program.
“The school wellness policy is intended to encourage both healthy eating, physical activity and general overall wellness,” Blodorn said.
Blodorn added that no significant changes were made to policies that manage students with life-threatening food allergies.
—By Thomas J. McKillen, Managing Editor