I got an excellent response from a nurse in town - can't post it.
She agrees - low income families will be helped by this by relieving the pressure to provide bday treats.
Here is the letter I sent to the board. I'm out of time to edit/re-write so I let it fly. Must work now.
I am going to the board meeting tomorrow night - so any and all ideas/thoughts are welcome!
Dear Bellevue School Board,
This is regarding the recent huge step forward in making our district’s schools safe and inclusive for all children. It has come to my attention that at least one of the Board Members opposes this procedure and has put the topic up for discussion at the upcoming board meeting.
As the parent of a child with a life threatening food allergy I wholeheartedly support the new procedure even though it will not materially affect my son. It won’t affect him because I have ensured that his rights to FAPE are met through a 504 plan. One of the basic accommodations is that all rooms that he has classes in are FOOD FREE rooms. It has never been clear to me why this isn’t the case for all children with life threatening food allergies. The district is responsible to provide FAPE even if the parents are unaware of their child’s rights. I have had to advocate year after year for my son’s safety and inclusion, even though it is his right and your duty to provide a safe and inclusive education. We get there each year, but it takes time educating the educators and attorneys.
The new procedure is clear, easy and concise. It is fair, equitable, enforceable and provides a safe and inclusive learning environment for all children. It is in line with federal disability laws, and health and wellness mandates. Having food at parties, celebrations, events, etc. is tantamount to having weapons there. Could your non allergic child enjoy a party when there was a weapon on the table? Could they then engage in higher learning without impact?
There have been years at Bennett elementary when the whole grade decided to go food free for a multitude of reasons. They were fun years led by smart teachers. But unfortunately, over the years my son has faced the stigma of being the “allergy kid” and the reason why his class can’t have a food party. He’s attended the Cherry Crest Welcoming party only to feel unwelcomed and unsafe as there was nothing served there that was safe for him. I thought of the children with dairy allergy as there was ice cream on all of the surfaces and play equipment. I’m sure that the dairy allergic didn’t attend the event given the name “Ice Cream Social” but they were put in danger by it none the less given the contamination of the area. This so-called community building event , held at a school adorned with UNITY signs ironically excludes food allergic children and their families. The amount of food and parties surrounding fifth grade “graduation” was dangerous (unsafe food served in the dark at a dance) and overwhelming. There were half a dozen events where food was served. It was extreme.
Allowing food parties, personal birthday parties with cupcakes and ice cream, and food reward programs negate the Wellness Policies and go against the Federally Mandated nutritional guidelines and of course the disability laws. Recently a “nut-ban” was challenged in the courts, the ruling is attached.
Calling this change in procedure extreme is shortsighted. Having a child die in your school is extreme and that frankly is the threat that we are faced with. I’ve met family members of children who have died in WA State schools, with an action plan, and an epi pen in the room, unused while the child is dying on the floor. We know that teachers, well meaning, in this district have encouraged children to ingest their allergen. It is not extreme to stop this careless practice and give teachers clear guidance. It is extreme to wait until there is a death in Bellevue to support this procedure.
I was honored to meet with Superintendent Randy Dorn to discuss this very issue this spring. There are dozens of guidelines, hundreds of pages of policy, papers from the CDC the OPSI, action plans, health care plans, 504 plans, state law, federal law, etc. and yet this one simple policy will stand to greatly simplify them all. The pages and pages, the training, negotiating, meetings, time and money spent all so we can have cupcakes or culturally meaningful food in a class room is a waste of our precious resources and is not “community building” when it endangers and excludes a growing number of students and families. Much of that is resolved by this new policy and I for one think it’s brilliant.
I would like to see the School Board understand and support this procedure and focus on implementing the stocking of epinephrine for schools.
http://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=28A.210.383. The wonderful (overworked and understaffed) nurses, families of lower economic means, food allergic children, diabetic children, obese children, and our teachers themselves would be much better served with your support.
Further this takes us off course in dealing with academic performance, emergency procedures, flu, school shootings, etc. The use of food in schools in Bellevue prior to this policy was out of sync with the health, wellness, and academic success of our students.