Discussion gets emotional on breakfast program decision
JANESVILLE — Several Janesville School Board members bemoaned the recent decision to replace school breakfast clubs with the federal free-breakfast program Tuesday.
The board accepted Superintendent Karen Schulte's contention that the decision is about operations—her decision to make, not the board's.
But in a sometimes emotional discussion, several board members expressed displeasure with how the changeover was handled.
Breakfast clubs run with volunteers and donations have operated in some Janesville schools for many years. The district-run, federally funded program will take over for them Jan. 28.
The district sent a letter to the volunteers last fall, announcing the change.
District food-service staff will take over the program. Federal reimbursements are expected to pay the entire cost.
District CFO Keith Pennington offered a long list of reasons for the change.
The federal breakfast program doubled or tripled participation when it was installed at the district's middle schools, Pennington said. He argued that more students getting a healthful breakfast could improve their performance in school.
Pennington said the federal program avoids the potential for lawsuits if a volunteer serves tainted food, such as peanut butter that was recalled recently.
Volunteers are not background-checked, another potential source of lawsuits, Pennington said, and they are not trained in food safety or special dietary needs.
Board member Kevin Murray, a member of his church's breakfast club at Jackson School, asked whether other volunteers are background-checked. They are not, but they are supervised by paid staff, said Superintendent Karen Schulte.
Feeding students is subject to many more regulations than in years past, and the needs of students have changed, Pennington said.
Murray said the volunteers were "blindsided" by the announcement.
If volunteers knew they should get background checks, they would have done them years ago, and if they knew there were problems with what they served or how they served it, they would have changed those, too.
"Nobody ever told us or gave us any idea we were doing something wrong," Murray said.
In addition to these safety and liability concerns, "now we have food police serving breakfast, as well," Murray said.
Schulte responded, saying food-service workers are not food police; they are loving, kind professionals.
Murray retorted that he was not referring to the workers, but to "you and your administration and how you handled this."
Board President Bill Sodemann agreed the administration could have handled the communications better. He said the federal breakfast program is usurping the parents' responsibility of feeding their own children.
"I think it's a shame that we've gone this far in our government," Sodemann said.
Food Services Manager Jim Degan, apparently not responding directly to Sodemann, said the federal breakfast program has existed since 1975.
Pennington said the district shouldn't deny children a nutritious breakfast because of ideology.
Board member David DiStefano said his bottom line is that the change is the best for children, but he is sorry that many people's feelings were hurt.
It was clear board members had heard from volunteers who were upset at being replaced. Both administrators and board members went out of their way to praise their efforts over the years and to invite them to find other volunteer opportunities in the schools.
"We need you in so many ways," board member Kristin Hesselbacher said.
Jan 16, 2013 at 4:53 p.m.
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TCB, "In God We Trust" was added to currency in 1956, around the same time they also added "Under God" into the Pledge of Allegiance. These types of changes were a result of Red Scare because communist were purported as godless.
Jan 16, 2013 at 9:14 a.m.
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dakamn,
I guess the US currency establishes religion?
Jan 13, 2013 at 11:12 a.m.
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Third_Eye, here is the _citation_ "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." It's the first sentence of the First Amendment.
Jan 11, 2013 at 4:37 p.m.
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Username - Did it ever dawn on you why the lawsuits came out of the woodwork against the Catholic Church to begin with? They are the richest entity in the world so who do you go after first? The one with the most money! I don't care what group you belong too, whether that be religous or not, there will be bad in everything. Just because you run a background check on someone doesn't means they are good to go. It could just mean they haven't been caught yet! From what I read, these church goers were there for the kids and didn't push their religous beliefs on the kids. So what's the harm in that? The kids didn't know they had anything to do with a church, but they were there to feed them.
Unfortunatley in life you can't please everyone. It comes down to if your able to look yourself in the mirror every morning and be proud of who you are and what you do to make this world a little better.
Jan 11, 2013 at 3:56 p.m.
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Username: Quote "and think of the Catholic church with my kids... no thank you.." End Quote
Would you have posted this if you used the words Jew, Muslim, or Black, instead of your phrase "the Catholic church" ?
Jan 11, 2013 at 3:52 p.m.
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dakman: Site for me in the constitution where it calls for the separation of church and state.
Jan 11, 2013 at 3:48 p.m.
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Username_goes_here, I understand your concern with the catholic church since the sensationalized priest molestations, but to jump immediately from that to a government that is running a 16.4 trillion dollar debt to spend more money is exactly the attitude and laziness in solving problems that put us here. This continued sheep mentality where everything should be run by the government is sad, scary and desperate, when does it stop?
Jan 11, 2013 at 2:37 p.m.
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Third_Eye, imbued within the constitution.
Jan 11, 2013 at 11:09 a.m.
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dakman Jan 11, 2013 at 8:22 a.m....and their present day legal status is????
Jan 11, 2013 at 10:22 a.m.
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analert,
what is your remedy? More govt control? More importantly who will finance this control and who determines what is abuse?
Jan 11, 2013 at 8:22 a.m.
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@Third_Eye, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Ben Franklin, and a bunch of other forefathers who were separationists.
Jan 10, 2013 at 11:01 p.m.
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@TCB- All programs are abused including the following: banking industry, Insurance ( AIG comes to mind),mortgage firms, unions, Investment firms, medacaid, food stamp programs etc. Oversight might solve some of the dilemmas.Oversight does not just apply to goverment programs for the needy.Quit trying to incite- I'm just not interested.
Jan 10, 2013 at 9:14 p.m.
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analert,
Which program are abused and which programs require more government oversight and why?
We lost only 50 billion per year in medicaid/medicaid fraud and the govt turns a blind eye to this.....
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:52 p.m.
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dakman Jan 10, 2013 at 3:37 p.m. "The way it should be", according to who?
Jan 10, 2013 at 5:17 p.m.
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@frusion- I agree with you that some welfare programs are abused and have, for some people, created a way of life making them life in generational poverty. For so many others though, the programs need to be kept. A better job of monitoring abuses seems to be the answer.
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:49 p.m.
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dakman,
Which chruch run programs need to be removed from public education curriculum? I don't know of any so please be specific!
Thanks in advance!
Jan 10, 2013 at 4:30 p.m.
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dakman, I would be all for that separation, which by the way doesn't exist in the constitution, if we cut ties of all 'religions' from public schools starting with the unions. The way some view their unions is not much different than how many view their faith, so let's be objective about possible negative influences in schools and not just one sided.
Jan 10, 2013 at 3:37 p.m.
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Why is this such a big issue, it seems like it would make more sense to get the church ran programs out of a public school. You know, separation of church and state... the way it should be?
Jan 10, 2013 at 3:19 p.m.
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TCB, don't forget kosher
Jan 10, 2013 at 3:18 p.m.
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analertcitizen, yes, some rely on it for a safety net and some see it as a way of life. There's no denying the numbers of people that expect and feel entitled has grown from 1939. In 1939 people were embarrassed to take government handouts. Now there are those that smile and wring their hands for more.
Jan 10, 2013 at 3:03 p.m.
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When will the program include lunch and a mid morning and mid afternoon snack? I am a vegan-so please make sure there is a vegan option for the free food.....
Jan 10, 2013 at 2:25 p.m.
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@nicksmom- Your statement: "... Voted for this in November"?? The Food Stamp program started in 1939. The Obama Administration did not invent this.As far as the leap in numbers, please don't forget what the "crash" of 2008 did to families. Some must rely on this safety net.
Jan 10, 2013 at 1:53 p.m.
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Well said Mr. Sodemann. Weren't the schools feeding kids this summer? Now breakfast? Where does it stop? Oh that's right, the morons in our country that think everything is "free" voted for this in November. Lord help us.
Jan 10, 2013 at 1:14 p.m.
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We have 40 million people on food stamps to help feed them and their children and now we also feed them at school. What do you think is being done with the food stamps?
Jan 10, 2013 at 12:56 p.m.
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This is being paid 100 percent by taxpayers. The more school districts that are in this program the higher the local share will be.
Jan 10, 2013 at 12:31 p.m.
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I grew up in a completely dysfunctional home and often went to school hungry. Fortunately, because Catholic Schools were free at the time, I went to one. If not for the good nuns feeding me occasional breakfasts, my energy level would not have sustained a full school day. By the way, they also gave me lunch when I didn't bring one- and that was 60-65 years ago. Quit complaining about feeding children and get behind any program that helps.
Jan 10, 2013 at 11:46 a.m.
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It's the progressive liberal way!
Jan 10, 2013 at 11:19 a.m.
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So a church or churches were doing what they are meant to do, provide for people in need and that got taken away and is now facilitated by government? Lovely, let's get more things to go this way we grow money on trees, right?
Jan 10, 2013 at 9:16 a.m.
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frusion - you got that all right. First, the churches were not evangelizing while doing this, and I bet dollars to donuts that the kids really didn't have a clue about the church from which the volunteers came - only that there were adults who cared enough to make sure they weren't hungry. If the churches (one of which is mine) and their members cared enough to make one this one of their causes which they support with their own (PRIVATE) dollars and personal time, why does Sayin' have such a problem with it? Further, the breakfasts offered are high in processed flour and sugar (pop tart or muffin, anyone?) and if the kids don't eat the protein offered along with (cheese stick, etc.), then they will have just as much of the sugar high and crash and burn as with any packaged cereal. I am tired of not getting to choose which causes my hard-earned dollars support (taxes instead of charitable contributions). We didn't have kids until we could support them, and we sacrifice during difficult times to make sure they are provided for before we spend on ourselves. (Most people experience difficult times at one time or another, but it's how you handle them and plan for them that makes the difference.) However, these breakfasts are available for purchase by those who do not qualify for reduced or free lunches, so that helps defray the taxes used.
Jan 10, 2013 at 8:49 a.m.
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ImJustSayin, if you think it's great that government has gone this far please kick in more of YOUR tax money for even more government programs. If you think its so great the government is moving to socialism I would like to see you raise your hand to contribute more to such a great idea. I can't wait to see the menu for this nutritious breakfast. If its anything like the chicken nuggets and cheese pizza kind of nutrition they dole out at lunch time the kids will be sleeping by 10am.
Jan 10, 2013 at 7:56 a.m.
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Yea ImJustSayin, that's the ticket, get God out of school. What could possibly go wrong?
.
"Feeding students is subject to many more regulations than in years past..."
And just who made those regulations?
"and the needs of students have changed."
Really? How?
"now we have food police serving breakfast, as well,".
"I think it's a shame that we've gone this far in our government,"
It's more than a shame Mr. Sodemann.
Jan 10, 2013 at 7:15 a.m.
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Food stamp users are now at 40 million+. Your money is already being taken to fund a $70B SNAP program. At least with the government taking our money for breakfast at school, the money is confirmed to be going to children's food and not alcohol, drugs, casinos, and strip clubs.
Jan 10, 2013 at 6:47 a.m.
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Good post Donnaw.
Parents need to feed their children, not schools, not government. This all started with "do-gooders" and has now turned ugly. Lefties/socialists/dems know; "When you rob Peter to pay Paul you can always count on the vote of Paul"
Jan 10, 2013 at 6:28 a.m.
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"The federal breakfast program doubled or tripled participation when it was installed at the district's middle schools, Pennington said. He argued that more students getting a healthful breakfast could improve their performance in school." There's your reason. They think it might raise test scores, which will in turn make them look better. It's not about you, volunteers, it's about them.
Jan 10, 2013 at 6:03 a.m.
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And imjustsaying...I guess your opinion is that any volunteers who are of any religious persuasion should not be allowed to volunteer in any school. Kinda gets rid of most of the volunteers. Darn do gooders!
Jan 10, 2013 at 6 a.m.
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Yes, how far we've gone when we rely on the govt to feed our children. What ever happened to taking care of your own children. If you can't afford to feed them then don't have them. We as a nation continue to rely on the got for more and more...it's like a narcotic, habit forming.
Jan 9, 2013 at 9:51 p.m.
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I guess- so much for the community involvement I initiative.
Jan 9, 2013 at 7:42 p.m.
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Narrow mindedness abounds...ImJustSayin.
Jan 9, 2013 at 5:14 p.m.
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"I think it's a shame that we've gone this far in our government," Sodemann said.
I think it's great that we've gone this far in our government. Get the church groups out of the public schools, it is no place for them. I think this is the real reason why people are mad, but that's just my opinion.
Want to see cranky? Just click the link at the end. They want to fight a fight they will almost certainly lose, cost their school district huge amounts of cash, and all in a shaky economy, but who can argue with religion?
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyath...
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