Slush Funds: Danvers Schools' Move To Ban Food-Based Fundraisers Draws Ire Of Many Parents

DANVERS, MA — The elimination of slush in Danvers Public Schools during the school day got the cold shoulder from many parents in recent weeks as School Committee members said they received hundreds of emails questioning why the popular fundraiser will no longer be allowed.

The elimination of slush as a fundraiser was part of the updates to the district's mandated three-year review of its wellness policy as proposed by School Food Services Director Emily Cook. Cook told the School Committee on Monday that it was the preference of the School Wellness Committee that recommended the changes to move away from all food-based fundraisers during the school day, and that slush — in particular — must be prohibited as it does not meet the nutritional quality standards of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, with a violation of those standards potentially putting the district's free lunch funding in jeopardy.

But members of a Parents Advisory Council argued during public comment that sales of the slush, and other food items, raise about $4,000 each year that goes toward school culture and enrichment programs.

Cook said that while eliminating the slush is simply enforcing a policy on USDA-approved items that that district must follow, the decision on whether to prohibit all food-based fundraisers lies with the School Committee.

"We just wanted to move away from all food-based fundraising," Cook said. "A lot of other districts have that policy in place. It would not be unique to Danvers.

"Elmininate that. Move away from that. Shift to more movement-based fundraisers and other ways to fundraise that have a better image of health and wellness."

Acting Superintendent Mary Wermers said "walk-a-thon" fundraisers have proved popular and successful.

It was stated that the enforcement change is not about a debate on the nutritional benefits of slush compared to other items that meet USDA standards — such as ice cream, maple syrup and fried cheese sticks — but more a matter that the USDA has determined that for whatever reason some items are allowed and some are not and that the district has to stay in compliance with that.

School Committee member Joshua Kepnes said the School Committee had received "hundreds of emails" from those questioning the need for the change.

"There is something else here that's deeper which has nothing to do with food," School Committee member Gabe Lopes said. "It's the notion of chipping away at something that makes it fun at the schools. I think this is just the straw that broke the camel's back for a lot of these parents.

"I think that's a completely different topic. That's something else that warrants a conversation."

The School Committee chose to postpone the first reading of the policy until its August meeting so that there could be more dialogue — or a so-called "slush summit" — between the district food services, administrators and the PACs on finding fundraisers that raise money for programs in an equitable way for all schools.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)