Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Nutrition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
SFUSD board adopts resolution to allow breakfast during first‑period classes; requires plan by end of school year
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Education voted unanimously to amend and then adopt a student‑breakfast resolution directing staff to develop a plan by the end of the 2013‑14 school year to allow students to eat or finish breakfasts during first‑period classes, citing research and low current participation in school breakfast programs.
The San Francisco Board of Education voted on Oct. 16 to adopt a resolution directing the superintendent to explore a policy allowing students to eat or finish breakfast during the first class of the school day and to return to the curriculum committee with a plan by the end of the 2013‑14 school year.
Student delegates Wendy Lee and Megan Wong were acknowledged as authors of the request, and the Student Advisory Council presented supporting language and data showing low participation in school breakfast among low‑income students. Board members read federal reimbursement rates into the record — $1.55 for free meals and $1.25 for reduced‑price meals — and cited evidence that in 2010–11 only about 15% of eligible low‑income students participated in school breakfast versus 57% for school lunch.
Commissioner Winns and others praised the resolution for its potential to increase participation and improve student concentration. President Norton moved to amend the “therefore be it resolved” clause to require that a plan be brought back to the board by the end of the current 2013‑14 school year and for periodic updates in the curriculum committee; the superintendent accepted that amendment. The amendment passed unanimously, and the amended resolution passed on a recorded roll call with seven affirmative votes.
Supporters said allowing breakfast in class — in addition to existing “grab‑and‑go” options at middle and high schools — could raise breakfast participation and bring more federal reimbursement dollars into school nutrition programs. During public comment and board discussion, Susan Solomon of United Educators of San Francisco urged that the district include classroom‑cleaning supports and appropriate containers to minimize custodial and pest issues if food is allowed in classrooms.
The board requested that the district return to the curriculum committee with an implementation plan including pilots, logistics, custodial considerations and timelines, as well as periodic progress reports for the remainder of the school year.
