Alexandria, Va. - March 31, 2009 – On behalf of 95,000 local school board members across the nation, Reggie Felton, director of federal relations for the National School Boards Association (NSBA) addressed Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA), Ranking Member Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and other members of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry at a Hearing on “Beyond Federal School Meal Programs: Reforming Nutrition for Kids in School”.

The Committee is considering proposed legislation that would establish federal standards on all foods and beverages available to students, not just those food and beverage programs that are federally subsidized. NSBA urged Congress to refrain from enacting legislation that would further restrict the authority and flexibility of local school boards.

In his testimony, Felton said, “Without question, NSBA believes that child nutrition is vitally important to fostering a healthy and positive learning environment for children to achieve their full potential. However, the issue is whether child nutrition would be significantly improved by additional federally mandated nutrition standards on all foods and beverages. To this question, the answer is ‘no’.”

Of particular concern to the association is that federal efforts to regulate food and beverages in schools, throughout the school day and at school events, is overly intrusive and burdensome to school districts.

“Further, school board members believe that such efforts to establish one-size-fits-all restrictions dismiss the work of wellness councils and usurp the jurisdiction of local school boards to create a policy that reflects the values and financial capabilities of local communities,” Felton said. “Such restrictions would in all likelihood increase student purchases beyond school grounds, and could potentially increase misunderstandings and complaints from parents regarding the banning of certain foods while allowing others.”

NSBA remains committed to changing attitudes and sustaining positive behavior related to nutrition, but reiterate that community-based decisions are much more effective in the long run than mandates from the federal government. Federal mandates on our public schools cannot be the vehicle for changes in society, and fail to guarantee the complexity of sustained positive changes in healthy, human behavior that is desired.

Anne L. Bryant, NSBA’s executive director, said, “NSBA feels strongly that schools should be healthy environments where children can learn and grow, but we also support the decisions of our local leaders in their districts. It’s critical that we allow school board members on the ground to work with their communities to make decisions that make sense for their students.”

To view the full testimony, visit http://www.nsba.org/MainMenu/Advocacy/FederalLaws/SchoolNutrition/Testimony.aspx.

Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association is a not-for-profit federation of state associations of school boards representing 95,000 local school board members throughout the United States. Its mission is to foster excellence and equity in public elementary and secondary education through local school board leadership. NSBA represents the school board perspective in working with federal government agencies and national organizations that impact education, and provides vital information and services to state associations of school boards throughout the nation.

Contact:
Linda Embrey, NSBA Communications Office
703-838-6737; lembrey@nsba.org

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