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Students press Ventura Unified to pilot reusable utensils, present petition to cut single-use spork packs
Summary
Foothill Tech students asked the board to reduce single-use plastic utensil packs in district cafeterias and proposed pilot options including stainless-steel sporks, dispensers and a student sustainability committee; the board agreed to place a student-drafted resolution on a future agenda for discussion.
Several students from Foothill Technology High School told the Ventura Unified board on Nov. 19 they want the district to end or reduce distribution of single-use plastic spork packs in school cafeterias.
Beatric Barnes, a senior, said the district used more than 600,000 single-use plastic spork packs last year and argued the purchases worsen local pollution and greenhouse-gas emissions. She proposed practical alternatives: unwrapped plastic utensils, stainless-steel sporks with a dishwasher pilot at a single site, refill dispensers or wooden/bamboo utensils if stainless steel is not feasible.
Ruby Jenkins described a student campaign and a petition signed by more than 200 Ventura Unified students and community members supporting reduced single-use plastics. Students proposed reinstating a districtwide student sustainability committee to coordinate quarterly campus updates and help oversee pilot programs.
The Surf Rider Foundation and other community voices supported the students’ proposals during public comment. Board members acknowledged the students’ work and the superintendent noted the board had received the student-drafted resolution; trustees signaled consensus to agendize the resolution for a future board discussion.
Why it matters: Reducing single-use plastics has environmental benefits and intersects with district food-service operations and purchasing decisions. Students presenting a concrete pilot plan increases the likelihood of operational follow-through.
Next steps: Staff will add the student resolution on single-use plastics to a future board agenda for discussion and potential action; trustees also requested opportunities to tie this work to a Child Nutrition Services presentation.
