As the next step in developing a Madison School District comprehensive food policy, recommendations have been forwarded by a student work group for consideration by the Board of Education.

This policy could influence which foods are served in school breakfast and lunch programs, school "potlucks" and other classroom celebrations; vending machine sales and other school fundraising activities; and the locations in schools in which food is eaten.

Included in the proposals are two separate sets of recommendations from the MMSD Student Senate and the district's management team.

The school district has placed on its Web site a questionnaire that is designed to provide community feedback on the recommendations contained in the draft food policy. Also on the Web site is a page that links to all related food policy documents.

In addition, citizens will have opportunities to address the Board of Education members at Board meetings or through the "comments" portion of the district Web site in the coming weeks before the Board makes any final decisions. The Board is first scheduled to consider the recommendations on May 1.

There are 19 recommendations in all, grouped into five categories: Nutrition, Sales, Food Safety, Environment, and Consumption. They would apply to school breakfast/lunch programs, vending machines, school stores, school sponsored fund-raising activities, and classroom consumption.

The proposals would not apply to booster club fund-raising or the fund-raising of school-sanctioned clubs that occurs more than 30 minutes outside of school hours.

Of the 19 recommendations, the student work group, the Student Senate and the district management team agreed in full on 11, and they did not agree in full on eight of the recommendations. For details, click here .

The student work group is comprised of seven high school students who are members of the MMSD Student Senate. Over the previous four months, they worked intensively on developing the recommendations.

Related MMSD Links

• "Conversation" on Food Policy Video