FARMINGTON – SAD 9 board members voted Tuesday to accept a state policy allowing school-based fund-raising groups to keep money raised in food sales, and exempting them from following school nutritional guidelines in the food sold.
The vote came after weeks of discussion, with board member Jo Josephson of Wilton advocating for a no vote and an amendment of the policy to require groups, including the Athletic Boosters, to serve nutritious foods at fund-raising events.
“Eating high-fat, high-sugar foods is too frequent an occurrence. Does the end justify the means?” she asked while reading a statement.
She explained her decision to change her vote in favor of the policy, saying she thinks voting against the measure could hurt the boosters and other organizations. She added that, “this policy isn’t fair. As worded, it allows them to sell food that is below (state) standards – standards that say Hawaiian Punch is acceptable, because it has vitamin C added to it.”
She added that she hopes that the boosters and other groups will change to more nutritional offerings.
A number of board members expressed their approval of Josephson’s statement. Bob Flick of Farmington said he would “like to commend Jo on her efforts, and her concern.”
“I am in the same camp with her this time. I feel we need to show leadership. This is what the board of education is all about,” he said.
Bob Neal of New Sharon added that at the coming girls’ basketball game, “there’s going to be at least one customer for orange juice.”
The board voted to accept the policy unanimously.
Board members also voted 8-4 to create a position for a technology manager, and to share the position with SAD 58. Angel Allen is the district’s new technology manager. She will work two-thirds of the time with SAD 9, and one-third of the time with SAD 58. The board also voted to create positions for a technology secretary and ed tech.
“It is very exciting that we may be able to work with another system with similar needs,” said Bob Pullo of Wilton, who voted for the measure. Opponents of the vote worried that creating three new positions would hurt the system’s budget. “I’m not sure this is the proper step. Part-time jobs have a tendency to become full-time jobs. I’m going to have a really hard time to vote for it,” said Neal.
If the board raises the budget, he said, “We’re going to be sitting in some mighty cold libraries this winter.”
Comments are no longer available on this story