Brookline Nutrition Advisory Board

Meeting Minutes 10-27-06

Present: Elena Olson (Runkle); Peter Rowe (Depty Superintendent); Ann Johnson (BSFS Directors); Janet Schwartz (Nutrition Consultant); Gloria Rudish (DPH); Eric Rimm (Lincoln); Ruth Helfeld (Lincoln); Theresa Gallo-Toth (Runkle staff); Helen Delichtasios (Baker); Susan Levin (Pierce)

1. Approved 9/15 meeting minutes.
2. New NAB members and change of meeting time: Elena received emails from new representatives from Driscoll and Heath – 2 schools missing representation on NAB- but they were not present at this meeting. Due to popular demand, group decided to change next meeting (Dec. 15) time to 8:15 am so that more reps could attend after school drop off, and alternate future meeting dates between mornings and afternoons.
3. New Wellness Policy adopted by School Committee on 9/28 (“Wellness Policy”) Update: Peter Rowe presented 2 page document. Although much leaner and more vague than what the original Wellness Policy Council had submitted to the School Committee for review and approval, Peter felt that spirit of document was present.

Questions from NAB members that Peter responded to:

• Does this include staff? At present, does not appear to.
• How will Dr. Lupini (cited in document) ensure implementation is consistent throughout schools? The new Wellness Committee, outlined by the Wellness Policy, will determine this together with Dr. Lupini. However, change will be made school by school, as is done with other initiatives in Brookline school system. The group felt strongly that schools needed guidelines. Peter recommended that each school, possibly through School Councils, looks at Wellness issues they’d like to implement and begin initiating ideas. Runkle is already doing this.
• Can anyone request review of the Wellness Policy “no less than every three years” ? Peter said it was only the School Committee who could request the review.

Next steps:

1. Convene new Wellness Committee. Let Peter know if you want to be included.
2. Superintendent will address new policy with PTO Presidents and ask them for recommendations of teachers, parents, and others who would like to participate in the new Wellness Committee cited in the Wellness Policy. Peter invited anyone who sits on NAB to be part of this Committee. NAB will continue to exist independent of this new Wellness Committee, since NAB was created to provide advice to Brookline Schools Food Services, and Wellness Policy is much broader than this.
3. Group suggested that Superintendent also address policy with principals from all schools, given that Principals play such a huge role in each school. Peter would follow up with Dr. Lupini about this.
   
4. Update on Changes to WFL. Ann presented information on powerpoint slides about the National Lunch Program, which limits much of what BSFS can offer/serve. See attached slides for details. The group agreed that BSFS should not offer so many options. If BSFS changed the system to items “served” vs. “offered” this would create much less confusion and ensure that kids got all the nutrients they needed for the day. Portion sizes are also an issue and Ann is training staff to do this correctly. Some more challenges/limitations:
   
• Ann has a challenge in keeping up with all the issues, especially reviewing the lunches at each and every school on a regular basis. She is able to go to Pierce cafeteria often since her office is next door. She has been praising staff for the good work, eg, Suzanne for the best broccoli during the kindergarten lunch day.
• The three complaints that Ann heard most about at the beginning of school year concerned removing bagels, flavored milk and limiting pizza. Ann does not plan to reinstate these items at this point as she is trying to influence the younger kids.
1. Milk – currently offering 2% (eventhough guidelines NAB prepared suggested skim or 1%) since kids notice the difference. They are selling 60% of what they sold last year, and although she is concerned about this, doesn’t feel solution is to reinstate flavored milks. Instead, looking at other dairy options such as yogurt and 2% milk.
2. Bagels – only served at breakfast. Bagels were taken out of menu because 1) parents felt it was important that kids be eating the meal they were being served, rather than a bagel. When did an analysis of # bagels sold last year, over 30% of meals were bagel sales – and kids not always taking the yogurt and fruit offered with it. 2) It would be a financial incentive to sell bagels, but Ann believes we should focus on teaching kids to eat the meals…the younger children are already doing this! NAB members suggested offering bagels 1 or 2x per week, rather than PB&J options since peanut butter served has some transfats. It doesn’t have to be “all or nothing.”
3. Pizza – still serving 2x per month based on nutrient analysis and costs since Bravos is very expensive to serve.
• All NAB reps present agreed that Ann was doing a great job given these limitations.
5. Parent Education meetings- Ann is scheduling these individually at each school. If your school is interested in participating, please communicate with Ann. Lincoln and Runkle will be doing a breakfast session with no additional speaker in December. We will reassess if we bring in speakers in Spring.
6. Future NAB projects
• Thank you notes/acknowledgements to managers/kitchen staff in our schools for doing a great job. The staff needs more praising by the customers (children and parents). Pierce rep was very interested in following up on this.
• Please think of other projects NAB can help Ann with!
7. Additional agenda item discussed: K nutrition curriculum day - Ann said was very successful, with the exception of Lawrence since no one informed Ann that their kindergarten class would not be participating. Served whole wheat pasta and kids loved it. Ann took photos and will send them to us.
8. More advice for Ann…
• Explore replacing styrofoam trays to reduce waste and get more surface area for kids to place their food appropriately without spilling.
  Some schools have regular trays with dishwashers.
• Many schools still have sporks –combined fork and spoon- in packages that are very difficult to open. Ann will look at changing the packaging and ensuring that both a fork and spoon are served with meal at every school.

PLEASE NOTE NEW TIME FOR NEXT MEETING: Friday, December 15, 2006 at 8:15 am in School Committee Room