I wasn’t going to bring this up as I didn’t find it to be that big of a deal myself but there are those that might have a different opinion so I figured I’d mention it. It was mentioned in the comments on the school reorganization post that Bellmont High had decided not to offer an ala carte menu for lunch anymore. I had heard the same from my kids as they both typically eat the salad bar and other ala carte items and were complaining about it to me last night. I can understand eliminating junk food and foods that cause heartburn but what’s wrong with the salad bar for crying out loud. I asked them why the school had opted to do such a thing and their response was that they were told ” it was because of too much theft”.
Now I have to ask if a school can’t control their lunch lines and prevent theft how in the heck can they control anything at the school. I fully understand the school not wanting to lose money due to theft. My kids and I’m sure many others are just going to start brown bagging it which will reduce their lunch sales even further. I don’t know if the school makes a profit from lunches or if it’s a break even deal just so that kids have a nutrious meal. If the school doesn’t make a profit from lunches then I fully understand and would probably do the same. Like I said for my family it really doesnt matter I can actually provide a better meal if my kids take their own anyway. Having an ala carte menu for them was more of a convenience or luxuray when they dont like what’s in the main lunch line. The kids did tell me today that a final decision about whether the ala carte menu will be brought back hasn’t been made yet. Just curious what others out there think about it.
21 Comments
Hi Admin: There are plenty of staff that are specifically in the commons to ” patrol ” or watch or whatever you want to call it the student population during lunch mods Some of them are too busy chatting with each other to pay attention to what goes on. If one of the two staff members that stand at the top of the a la carte ramp would come down the ramp and stay by the a la carte line, none of this would have happened. I can imagine that staff are disappointed as well, as the school lunches that are provided are so full of preservatives, fats and other things we adults tend to shy away from.
I figured it was probably something like that. I would imagine they will be getting enough complaints from kids and staff that something will be put in place to keep the theft in check, so that ala carte can be offered again.
My student mentioned that they had a boycott BHS lunch today and many students brought their lunch. It seems that North Adams is going down the toilet fast this year. Unhappyness with staff, students and those administrators who think they have to change everything just because they are new and going to “whip” the world so to speak. It certiainly would be nice if students were treated like human beings in this system instead of just a commodity to obtain money from the State.
Are students permitted to take their lunch to school? I was told they couldn’t take food into the lunchroom.
Gosh, I don’t know. If not, my child probably got in trouble and hasn’t told me yet. LOL!
When my child came home and told me that one student pulled out a box of “Lucky Charms” and bowls, then other students that brought in pizza rolls and popcorn, I was so proud of those students for standing up for something they believed in. Good job to those parents for letting your children fight for something they feel strongly about. My child decided no to eat in protest, which I was not happy about but he did what he thought would work. Right on students! Look our children have backbones!
I have to admit, I had a great laugh when I was told.
Watch now the students won’t be able to use the microwave. Atleast you still have cereal!
I remember the kids protesting once before about the school lunches. They all brought in cereal and milk and bowls then also. The funny part is, the now Superintendents son was one of them who brought in cereal, much to the dismay of his Father who was then the Prinicpal at Southeast. LOL! Seems funny to me that sometimes the kids have more common sense and backbone than their parents.
Oh, I forgot, the television channels from Fort Wayne were there for that boycott also. LOL!
Why is there no “uproar” about the fact that kids are stealing! Hello…If they really did away with the lunch line becuase of theft, shouldn’t we be equally upset that there are students at BHS that find it acceptable to steal? If they are stealing at lunch it stands to reason they are stealing out in the “real world”.
My concern over this is the children now not eating. What about the wrestlers who can’t eat the carb/fat loaded school lunches or the kids & staff who just enjoy a healthier choice than hot lunch?
I was someplace last night and was able to hear one high school employee- I’m not sure if it was a teacher or aid- but the general idea was that is was “funny” that the kids are in such an uproar. That they all threatened to boycott or bring lunch and very few did. As I said- that doesn’t account for the kids who didn’t eat at all.
Parents need to get involved and start an uproar over this with adminitrators.
Northwest Mom,
I know when I was a wrestler oh so many years ago I lived on our schools salad bar. I agree many kids will probably just do with out lunch if they dont like what is offered in the main line. I hope the school reconsiders.
Private School Parent,
I didn’t focus the kids stealing because unfortunately they havn’t had the best examples within the school itself recently and didn’t really want to drag up that issue again.
In my opinion the school SHOULD focus more on STOPPING THE THEFT without punishing the many honest student that for now dont have the ala carte menu.
How do we stop this unruly progression of self centered adminsitrators who have taken over our school system. First the reconfiguration and now the offering of less than healthy lunches. It seems that I remember a grant was obtained and promoted when school started that we would be a healthy school. That centered around lunches. I hardly believe the regular lunch meets this criteria. I’m sure a salad bar and soup is certainly more healthy than the regular lunches served. The removal of the ala carte line can attributed to the new Principal at the high school, who with only 1 or 2 years of teaching under his belt is in charge. He was riffed from one job and then was an assistant for a year. I agree, one should focus on teaching our children not to steal and the consequences of it. However, it is difficult to do this with the previous behavior of school personnel earlier this year. It appears to me, that not only does the Super have a self centered agenda, so does this new guy. Power corrupts all. Just look at the Greek history and you will note this.
By what happened earlier this year, I assume you’re talking about the Wal Mart issue with…So because he made a mistake and stole it should be okay for his former students to do so too. I’m a former student of his (albeit not an overly satisfied one of his teaching style) but I’m not a thief. Not really sure that you can corlate the two.
As far as the health of the school lunch…I’m fairly certain that they are required to serve a “square meal” on the main line based on the food pyramid. Obviously, not everyone is going to like the meal, but it’s not like they are starving the students…But if they want to brown bag or have a protest, I think that’s great too…They should have the opportunity to voice their concerns and be heard. Not likely it will make much of a difference.
With that said, I’m also not a proponent of punishing all for a few peoples mistakes. I have to think that there is some type of compromise or way to monitor so that students don’t steal from the lunch line. Possibly harsher penalties. He lost his job for his mistake, should the students be expelled for stealing. I don’t know the answer…
Ala carte is back at the school according to my children. Everthing was brought back except the candy which is just fine by me. They don’t need any more junk food.
Private Schl Parent,
I wasn’t trying to say that is was ok for the kids to steal just that the examples of the past would give those student who are prone to bad behavior just another reason in their minds that it was ok. I in no means excuse the kids theft and fully believe they should be suspended and expelled. Just so you know I did edit your last comments to remove the name of the past school administrators name. This site already has brought enough attention to him and he has paid his price.
Private school parent,
Please tell me how beef/noodles, mashed potatoes, peaches and peanut butter crackers is healthy? First- no veg. Second, 2 heavy starches. Yes- a potato qualifies as a starch no a veg. And with the pb recall why are pb crackers even being offered?
I noticed and completely understand. I waffled on whether to list it myself. I’m glad to hear that the meal options are again available.
I didn’t say it was. What I said is they are “supposed” to serve a square meal and that they are required to follow certain dietary requirements for the mail line that is served at the high school, middle school, and at all of the elementary schools in Decatur. If they are not doing so, then maybe the complaint shouldn’t be that the ala carte line was taken away, but that the main line isn’t serving proper meals. I suppose the option is send a sack lunch.
My kids said the cookies and candy have returned. What is with all this junk available during school hours?? I remember, back in the day at Bellmont, we could purchase ice cream treats 2-3 times a week after lunch. The homemade ice cream was a hit. Now its Skittles, Starbursts, candy bars…. I thought the schools were attempting to control childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles. This is obviously a money maker. I’m happy the soup and salad bar is back for the kids. Not so sure as to why in gym at the middle school they wear heart monitors then they can go to the cafeteria and scarf down junk. I don’t get it. Lets get on the same page here.
“mom”…when you know the facts about what the schools can offer and why the kids wear heart monitors, then start talking.
Schools can’t sell complete crap “junk food”…there has to be a nutritious % of certain things in it…for example…chocolate is actually healthy in certain amounts due to the milk and other things in it. Juices must have at least 10% fruit juice in it to be sold at schools..there are many more factors…oh yeah….like high schoolers….aren’t they old enough to make healthy eating decisions by now?? and middle school kids wear heart monitors in PE to show that they are working and keeping their heart rate up….when they go to lunch, they too, have a choice of what to eat…going through their lunch line, believe me…there isn’t much junk to choose from. Go take a stroll in BMS during lunch…look for yourself then talk.
Teacher– skittles, starbursts, gushers, potato chips are NOT healthy!! They should NOT be sold at school. Ice cream as a treat on certain days….maybe. And you are a fool to believe any “kid” would make a healthy choice when it comes to school food or “junk”. And healthy fit people are able to maintain normal heart rates. Ask my husband who has a heart rate of 41. Ask any long distant runner. Grading these kids on making their heart rates go up is dumb. Teach them a sport. I know people who have children in other schools and they do not wear heart monitors. They have learned how to play lacrosse, the rules of volleyball, even had roller skating. Sounds like some kind of grant BMS is getting. Thank you for allowing me to “talk”.