PTO Today

At our meeting last night we had someone from district explain the law to us and they gave us a copy. It is somewhat strict. It definitely will make it harder to fundraise. They expect within two years that we are not to have any candy at all in the catalog. Which is silly since we cant control at home intake of food. We have 2 ice cream socials a year for our membership drive and we are going to have a hard time with that.

There isnt much to do to get around it. He did say the what they want is that there is more nutrional food availiable then unnutritional. Give kids the choice at bake sales, festivals, and what not. As well as portion control.

Well if you need a copy of the guidelines, I would request one from the district office and maybe have someone come to one of your meetings to explain it better. It is not wriitten in stone yet but by july it will be.

Good Luck!!

[ 03-21-2006, 12:12 PM: Message edited by: PTOmomoftwoboys ]

I'm actually excited about the changes! We have a six grade fundraiser that has been the same for eight years! NOW we can really encourage them to sell anything but chocolate....don't get me wrong, I love chocolate, big fan of it, need some right now, but they need something different.

Ours will start in July 2006. We have already received the no gum or candy memo. We have seen a preview of the policy. The district is going to give us fundraising ideas. But it is strict. Even bake sales will be out.

Hi all,

I read the Section 204 of Public Law 108-265. In it, it states "during the school day". I would think that carnivals, etc. that aren't conducted during the school day (actual school hours)wouldn't fall under this policy? I would see where a snack shack would since it's open during lunch recess, but not after hours activities. I'm going to keep reading and see what else pops up. We haven't heard anything from our district as of yet (we're 5th largest in the US).

Holly
McCawPTA@aol.com

I'll ask around at our district level to see if it matters when. I just know they are getting booster clubs and everyone else the information so that everyone will know by July.

the term 'during school day' does give many fundraisers no cause for change, since most fundraisers are afterhours....ask your supt/school board about the draft policy they must submit to the state by july/aug 06....no doubt much hinges on the admin in place, after all, the school board can make the policy stricter than the guidelines suggest, i would think, or just do the bare minimum to satisfy the law....in our state/district, the policy can be veiwed by the public prior to its acceptance, and the public can make comments. ask your principal/supt/school bd at which upcoming school board meeting (they are all open to the public) the wellness policy will be reviewed and opened to comment and attend the meeting if you want all the details before theyre set in stone.