Bellinghame Public Schools

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DATE: May 19, 2010 4:40:01 PM PDT

Bellingham School District parents/guardians, high school students, local agriculture representatives, community members and school Food Services staff are encouraged to apply by 5 p.m. May 28 to serve on the Farm-to-School Advisory Group.

The purpose of this Advisory Group is to: 

  • Make a recommendation to the Food Services Manager to increase the amount of healthy and local food provided to students in school meals.
  • Promote the healthy and local school food options at schools.
  • Research additional funding to support Farm-to-School activities.
  • Research ways to fund and support classroom curricula associated with Farm-to-School.

"We have been working with local farmers, parents and students in a variety of exciting ways this school year to increase students' access to local, healthy foods," says Food Services manager Mark Dalton. "This is challenging work because of the federal laws that determine our program, the volume of food needed for students during off-peak agriculture seasons when school is in session, and the fact that our food program needs to pay for itself.  We have had some great successes this year by collaborating with parents and our community. This advisory group will help us build connections, problem solve, and advance this important work."

The district's Food Services program is and will remain self-supporting. This means that food sales and federal reimbursements must fund all of the program's costs so that it does not have a negative impact on the district’s general fund.

To learn more about this group and open positions, please click here. 

To apply for consideration to serve, please click here to apply online by 5 p.m. May 28 or contact Food Services Manager Mark Dalton for more information at (360) 676-6504. The chair will review each application and select a group that is balanced with diverse representation inclusive of stakeholder groups: students, staff, parents/community members as well as balanced by attendance areas/neighborhoods and background/experiences relative to the task.