Olsen Responds To Party Policy Criticism

Over the past month, concern has grown toward a new policy now implemented in Westford Public Schools relating to food at school-sponsored parties. Various avenues of opposition have blossomed into attempts at dialogue over the issue from Superintendent Bill Olsen.

The policy, which was first announced in an e-mail to parents and reported here on Patch , is an early adoption of a Massachusetts state regulation set to begin next year that forbids public schools from allowing any food with sugar, potential allergens, or anything homemade into the four yearly school-sponsored parties conducted in Westford.

Frustration with the policy grew among local residents, but the resistance to the policy took an unexpected turn after a WBZ story. WBZ reported that the policy would ban Christmas cookies in school and that story was picked up by various regional and national media outlets, leading to angry e-mails and phone calls from across the country.

Olsen responded to all of the comments he got related to that particular aspect of the issue and noted that when most people realized that “banning Christmas” was not part of the policy, they apologized. Still, the damage had been done.

“This got swept up into that wave of growing discontent with Americans with political correctness,” said Olsen. “You can understand the anxiety level of Americans gets increasingly tense in relation to our religious and cultural traditions.”

That aspect of the policy wasn’t nearly as palpable to parents and students in Westford as opposition to the policy’s role toward improving nutrition in public schools.

One point of concern stemmed from loopholes in the policy, which still allow packaged goods that contain unhealthy things like saturated fats into the school policies and the fact that parents can still bring in unhealthy foods specifically for their own children if they are not shared with or exposed to other children.

In particular, the issue of nutrition in cafeterias also seemed to be a key deficiency related to the policy, which was not mentioned despite the fact that children eat there every day while the parties are limited to only four days of the year.

Westford resident Amber Brown, whose daughter Samantha Brown brought in a petition to Olsen signed by several of her classmates asking the policy be overturned, noted these loopholes in her disapproval for the measure.

“These kids buy desserts in the cafeteria every day; their parents can continue to give them cookies, and they get pizza every Friday,” said Brown. “And yet low-sugar marshmallow treats are acceptable in school parties under this new guideline. It’s absurd to think this will do anything to help the health of our kids.”

Brown’s daughter was not alone in bringing student-signed petitions asking for the removal of the policy. Westford parent and her son Anthony brought in a petition started with signatures gathered from students at the , where he said students are very upset at the initiative.

Although both Lisa and Anthony were disappointed that Olsen would not overturn the measure, they appreciated the fact that he took the time to listen to their concerns regardless.

“Even though this law will eventually go statewide, it’s an inconsistent message saying that moms can’t bring in fun snacks three or four times a year for school parties and I think my kids were hoping the policy could be delayed,” said DeScenza. “Still, I think it’s important for kids to know that they can go to the powers that be if they have a strong opinion on something and know those powers will take it under consideration.”

After what he has heard from parents and students, Olsen announced that in January he will have lunch with students at the Abbot School in the hopes of better understanding their concerns as well as sharing his views on the policy and other school food related topics.