Hutto ISD board members are expected to revisit establishing food guidelines at their monthly meeting in February that could impact when certain sweet and salty snacks are available during the school day.
At a Nov. 13 board meeting trustees said they were not sure how the adoption of some guidelines would impact snack sales at concession stands.
"I don't know what we are giving up with this," HISD board member Doug Gaul said at the time regarding the implementation of United States Department of Agriculture snack guidelines the district will revisit in February.
Only snacks that comply with USDA Smart Snack guidelines, which do not include items such as candy bars, are allowed on campus during the school day. School days are considered to start at midnight the day of school and end 30 minutes after school finishes. HISD currently has three exception days to the healthy food rules.
The USDA guidelines could restrict snacks that do not comply with USDA Smart Snack standards sold at concession stands during the school day. Some HISD sporting events are held before the 30 minutes following the end of the school day; therefore trustees said candy and salty snacks may not be available.
Current HISD food rules restrict the availability of foods and beverages during the school day, including foods of minimal nutritional value such as candy. At Hutto High School, food guidelines restrict food sales and access to vending machines during meal times where food is served and consumed, but the rule does not apply to after-school concession stands. At HISDs November meeting, Superintendent Doug Killian said healthy food rules have not seemed to work since the district throughout the past decade.
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller echoed Killians remarks in January when he held a news conference to announce parents would be able to bring cupcakes to their children at school. The Agriculture Department oversees Texas school lunch and nutrition programs.
"We want families, teachers and schools in Texas to know the Texas Department of Agriculture has abolished all rules and guidelines that would stop a parent from bringing cupcakes, cookies or snacks to school," Miller said in a Jan. 12 statement.
Although they postponed a decision on food restrictions, HISD board members did approve rules that would limit school bus and automobile idling on school grounds. The rule is meant to reduce student and teacher exposure to diesel fumes, according to board documents.
Research provided by HISD indicates diesel exhaust can irritate the eyes and respiratory system, and cause headaches and vomiting. Diesel exhaust is also listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as containing more than 100 potentially cancer-causing components.
At a Nov. 13 board meeting trustees said they were not sure how the adoption of some guidelines would impact snack sales at concession stands.
"I don't know what we are giving up with this," HISD board member Doug Gaul said at the time regarding the implementation of United States Department of Agriculture snack guidelines the district will revisit in February.
Only snacks that comply with USDA Smart Snack guidelines, which do not include items such as candy bars, are allowed on campus during the school day. School days are considered to start at midnight the day of school and end 30 minutes after school finishes. HISD currently has three exception days to the healthy food rules.
The USDA guidelines could restrict snacks that do not comply with USDA Smart Snack standards sold at concession stands during the school day. Some HISD sporting events are held before the 30 minutes following the end of the school day; therefore trustees said candy and salty snacks may not be available.
Current HISD food rules restrict the availability of foods and beverages during the school day, including foods of minimal nutritional value such as candy. At Hutto High School, food guidelines restrict food sales and access to vending machines during meal times where food is served and consumed, but the rule does not apply to after-school concession stands. At HISDs November meeting, Superintendent Doug Killian said healthy food rules have not seemed to work since the district throughout the past decade.
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller echoed Killians remarks in January when he held a news conference to announce parents would be able to bring cupcakes to their children at school. The Agriculture Department oversees Texas school lunch and nutrition programs.
"We want families, teachers and schools in Texas to know the Texas Department of Agriculture has abolished all rules and guidelines that would stop a parent from bringing cupcakes, cookies or snacks to school," Miller said in a Jan. 12 statement.
Although they postponed a decision on food restrictions, HISD board members did approve rules that would limit school bus and automobile idling on school grounds. The rule is meant to reduce student and teacher exposure to diesel fumes, according to board documents.
Research provided by HISD indicates diesel exhaust can irritate the eyes and respiratory system, and cause headaches and vomiting. Diesel exhaust is also listed by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as containing more than 100 potentially cancer-causing components.
