'Lunch Police' Not Coming to Danvers Schools

School principals will not become the “lunch police” under the Danvers School District’s newly revised wellness policy.

That was the message from Superintendent Lisa Dana to the School Committee when it met Monday night at .

The concern was raised by School Committee Chairman Arthur Skarmeas, who said that the policy could have be read to think that principals could be going through students’ lunches that they bring from home to make sure it complies with the school’s nutritional policy.

One of the new sections of the policy reads: “All food brought in to any school from outside sources would have to meet the nutritional guidelines that the DPS District Food Services Program follows. The building Principals will monitor these guidelines.”

Dana has suggested that policy be edited to make sure it is clear that food from “outside sources” does not includes individual lunches that students bring from home. Instead, it refers to food for things such as school events.

That seemed to satisfy the committee, who didn’t have any other questions.

The wellness policy has existed for many years – and is mandated by 2004 federal law - and undergoes review each year. The Wellness Committee completed some minor edits in June.

The policy went before the full School Committee for the first time on Monday and will return for a final vote when the board meets next on Sept. 10.

Eric Crane, a School Committee member, said he heard about recent study that showed school district’s that have adopted a wellness policy with nutritional guidelines have seen a reduction in child obesity numbers.

“We’ve actually been ahead of the curve on this,” he said.