Students Fight to Bring Back Special Needs Coffee Cart Program

Evan Fahr started a petition to “Bring Back Masuk High’s Coffee Cart” and has gotten 410 signatures in a week.

The Coffee Cart is “one of the only ways for special education students to feel pride in their work and create positive interactions with other students,” said Julia Rotella, a Masuk High School graduate.

“It is not only an injustice for the student body, but more so an injustice for these special education students. I’ll never forget how they lit up with joy on their faces when they worked that Coffee Cart! It’s about time we fight for students who are less likely to fight for themselves,” she continued.

The cart carried a selection of baked goods to students that were prepared, in school a group of staff members and special needs students. They used funds from the sale of the baked goods to raise money for supplies and trips.

Fahr wrote on his petition page:

“After a new policy came into effect, (which banned all foods, that were to be shared with students other than the one who brought them in, that are not in original packaging and/or were prepared at home) the coffee cart was soon disbanded with minimal explanation other than a violation of the new policy and a policy regarding healthy food choices.

Cited-”School celebrations, that distribute food and beverage that follow the healthy snack list including whole fruits and vegetables1 may occur at the discretion of the principal. Only foods in their original packaging are permitted. No home prepared foods will be allowed. A list of many non-food alternatives will be available in each of the district’s schools. Foods may be limited based upon allergen content.(BOE POLICY-6142.101)“

Unfortunately there is no basis for this argument as the coffee cart program is not a “School celebration” nor are the items, “home prepared foods.” They are actually prepared in school, just like the culinary class, and have trained adults who help keep everyone safe and clean through the process.

Allegedly, the second reason that our school has eliminated the program is the so-called “sale of minimally nutrition foods.”

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