Assemblyman Sheldon Silver introducing Bill Thompson
This year, the New York City Department of Education has severely cut funding and enacted strict new limits on bake sales in all New York State public schools.
Events such as Breast Cancer Awareness days and the Walk for Devon, not to mention our Insider, have relied on bagel and other baked goods sales for the last two years.
“I believe restricting bake sales will limit the ability of students to raise funds. My biggest concern is supplementing funding for senior dues and our newspaper – I think the new regulation definitely complicates the process for students because it is very narrowly tailored as to what is allowed to be sold,” stated Assistant Principal Mr. Joseph Canale.
The New York State Comptroller’s Office has determined that the DOE was not regulating bake sales, leading to Draconian new standards.
The DOE Chancellor’s Regulation A-812 states that “schools are not allowed to sell any food … that competes with the School Meals Program from the beginning of the school day until the end of the last lunch period.”
And they are serious. “Failure to follow its provisions may result in a directive to bring the school into compliance and, further, may impact adversely the principal’s compliance performance rating,” the regulation warns.
The only thing that’s safe right now at our school is the bagel and muffin sale on Wednesday morning, but all sales must end before the first period bell.
“The new regulations are ridiculous. Participation in extracurricular activities is a huge part of student life. And colleges tend to favor well rounded students who take part in clubs and other school programs,” said Guidance Counselor Ms. Marie Pastena.
Schools all over the city have been scrambling to come up with new fund raising ideas. Everyone, students and staff, are feeling the stress of the new rules.
Members of our newspaper staff recently attended a press conference at City Hall Park and were able to talk to mayoral candidate Bill Thompson.
“State Regulations mandate physical education, and instead what we have gotten from Mike Bloomberg and Joel Klein is ending bake sales. That’s a mistake.”
But many students feel new reguations will have little impact.
“This won’t change how we eat at home,” said junior Ricky Vega.
The number of overweight children in the U.S. has increased by more than 50 percent, according to this year’s DOE sponsored School Nutrition Report 2008-N-15.
However, it’s not likely that cutting bake sales will remediate this.
In the meanwhile, alternative means of fundraising must be explored.
Something must be done.
“Maybe we can have the bake sales if we list the ingredients,” said sophomore Chris Hepworth.
