Schools' Nutrition Advisory Group May Conflict With State Law

For the past year, the Newport School Committee has consulted its Nutrition Advisory Group regarding health and nutritional issues in Newport Public Schools. But during Tuesday night’s school committee meeting in the , School Committee Chairman Patrick Kelley raised a concern about the group, noting that its existence could possibly conflict with state law.

The School Committee already has a Health and Wellness Committee, whose duties are to oversee and provide recommendations on health, physical education and nutrition. Schools that qualify for reduced lunch are required to have a Health and Wellness Committee, Superintendent John Ambrogi said.

The Nutrition Advisory Group was originally a subcommittee of the Health and Wellness Committee, but later became its own volunteer entity. School committee members Rebecca Bolan, Thomas Phelan and Robert Leary, as well as other community members make up the group. 

Rather than voting on whether to rescind the authorization of the group, the school committee unanimously voted to refer the situation to the policy subcommittee to report back on whether the group was in violation of state and federal mandates.

“I don’t believe we’re in conflict with the law,” said Rebecca Bolan, school committee and Nutrition Advisory Group member. Bolan suggested going back and relooking at the policy to make sure the group fits within state and federal law, fixing language in the policies that could be outdated.

The school committee members made clear that they were not trying to get rid of the group, but rather keep it in line with current policies.

“I think the [Nutrition Advisory Group] has done eye-opening things for the schools,” committee member Robert Leary said.