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Wellness committee reports on healthier menus, ingredient transparency and recess practices

Rye City School District Board of Education · January 28, 2026

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Summary

The wellness committee reported work on healthier cafeteria offerings, ingredient transparency for families, discouraging use of recess as punishment and alternative fundraising methods to reduce reliance on bake sales.

Valerie Lapham reported to the board on Jan. 27 that the district’s wellness committee—led by Tracy Burnett and Stacy Falcone—held a productive meeting focusing on nutrition and physical activity. Lapham said food services staff have introduced new menu items made from scratch when possible and are working to reduce artificial ingredients and allergens.

Committee members discussed ingredient transparency, and one attendee recommended listing specific ingredients for cafeteria items to help families with allergies and dietary concerns. The committee also emphasized that physical exercise should not be used as a disciplinary measure, noting teachers are careful not to remove recess time except in cases where the disciplinary reason is tied to recess behavior.

Students attending the wellness meeting suggested alternative fundraising ideas to reduce reliance on food‑based fundraisers such as bake sales. The administration said the wellness policy (Policy 5404) generally aligns with current practice and will be reviewed for small tweaks where needed.