Food service woes spill over to schools – SoVaNOW

Shortages in Breakfast and Lunch Supplies in Virginia Schools

Public school divisions across Virginia are experiencing shortages in breakfast and lunch supplies due to a combination of low production and short staffing in the food industry.

Impact on Students and Efforts to Address the Issue

Mecklenburg County Superintendent of Schools Scott Worner told the school board Monday night that recent hurricanes and food industry staffing issues have led to a shortage in available fresh fruits and other foodstuffs that are often served to students for their morning and noontime meals.

“Our director of food services, Ms. Robin Moore, works tirelessly to provide substitutions and find other distributors,” Worner explained as he asked parents and students “to be patient as we have no control of foodstuff shortages.”

The food services department at the secondary school level recently instituted a new green initiative aimed at recycling Styrofoam. The program calls for middle school and high school students to clear their tables after eating and to deposit Styrofoam cups and plates in designated receptacles. Students who participate in the program can take part in a rewards challenge that offers them free wings and other “delicacies,” Worner said.

Focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 2: Zero Hunger

• Shortages in breakfast and lunch supplies impacting students’ access to nutritious meals.
• Efforts to find substitutions and alternative distributors to address the shortage.

• Implementation of a green initiative to recycle Styrofoam and reduce waste.
• Rewards challenge for students participating in the recycling program.

College Application Week and Financial Aid Information

The week of Oct. 21 is “College Application Week” at Mecklenburg County High School. Worner said to facilitate the program, the school counseling department is hosting activities for students who wish to further their education after graduation at a four-year college. A few colleges will also have recruiters on campus this week to provide information to interested students.

Students interested in applying to University of Virginia, Virginia Tech, William & Mary, George Mason University, James Madison University, Radford University, and Longwood University can avoid paying an application fee to the school if they apply this week.

Starting Dec. 1, the window to apply for FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Aid) will open. Worner said completing and filing a FAFSA form is an essential first step for all students seeking financial aid for post-secondary education. There is more information about FAFSA on the MCPS website under the “resources” tab. Worner said click on the school counseling tab under resources for more information.

New Cellphone Policy and Water Container Restrictions

Worner said the school division’s new cellphone free school policy will be provided to the public and to trustees at the Nov. 18 meeting of the Mecklenburg County School Board. The policy aims to conform to Gov. Glenn Younkin’s Executive Order issued July 9 and will most likely be a bus-to-bus ban on cellphones and non-district electronic devices (earbuds, headphones, cellular smartwatches, etc.).

Beginning in January, students will no longer be permitted to carry or possess metallic water containers — such as Yeti or Stanley cups — at school. Worner cited safety and security issues as the reasons for this restriction.

Implications for Teachers and Staff

Alice Willingham, a representative with the Virginia Education Association, challenged a decision by the school division to charge teachers with a half day of leave if they failed to “volunteer” for crowd control duty at the recent Mecklenburg High School homecoming game. She argued that the decision violated Virginia administrative rules and could result in teachers losing pay.

Willingham suggested an alternative solution where those who served be given an option to forego attending one of the scheduled teacher work days instead of cutting time from those who did not volunteer.

Recognition and Achievements

Worner commended the coaches and members of the MCMS/MCHS cross country team for their performance at the 2nd Annual Phoenix 5K and Fun Run. The team raised $1,615 that will be used for team equipment and to cover the cost of attending a cross country camp.

Eerin Fleming, director of student services, announced the members of the new Special Education Advisory Committee.

Upcoming Events and Reminders

• Nov. 5: Election Day is a school holiday for students and a professional development day for teachers and staff.
• Dec. 1: Window to apply for FAFSA opens.
• Dec. 16: School Board vote on the new cellphone policy.
• January: Restriction on metallic water containers takes effect.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

The article discusses issues related to food shortages in public school divisions, the implementation of a new green initiative in the food services department, and policies regarding cellphone use and water containers in schools. These issues are connected to the goals of achieving zero hunger (SDG 2), providing quality education (SDG 4), and promoting responsible consumption and production (SDG 12).

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 2.2: By 2030, end all forms of malnutrition, including achieving, by 2025, the internationally agreed targets on stunting and wasting in children under 5 years of age.
• SDG 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
• SDG 12.3: By 2030, halve per capita global food waste at the retail and consumer levels and reduce food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets that can be identified are related to ending forms of malnutrition in children (SDG 2.2), ensuring equitable and quality education (SDG 4.1), and reducing food waste along the production and supply chains (SDG 12.3).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 2.2.1: Prevalence of stunting (height for age <-2 standard deviation from the median of the World Health Organization (WHO) Child Growth Standards) among children under 5 years of age.
• Indicator 4.1.1: Proportion of children and young people (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex.
• Indicator 12.3.1: Food loss index.

The article does not explicitly mention specific indicators, but based on the identified targets, the following indicators can be used to measure progress: the prevalence of stunting among children under 5 years of age (Indicator 2.2.1), the proportion of children achieving minimum proficiency levels in reading and mathematics (Indicator 4.1.1), and the food loss index (Indicator 12.3.1).

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: sovanow.com