NCSD elementary schools prohibit homemade snacks

Homemade snacks and treats will no longer be accepted into the four elementary schools in Newton. Administrators say this change, which was included in the school board-approved parent and student handbook for school year 2019-20, is to guarantee the safety of all students, especially those with food allergies.

The four elementary school principals — James Gilbert of Aurora Heights, Jolene Comer of Emerson Hough, Trisca Mick of Thomas Jefferson and Todd Schuster of Woodrow Wilson — and the elementary school nurse decided on the rule change. Parents are asked to not send any homemade treats to student classrooms.

According to the handbook rule, approved by the Newton Community School District Board of Education during its June 24 meeting, “all snacks/treats brought to school must be in their original, labeled container.” Homemade foods will not be distributed to students since the school has no real guarantee of the ingredients in the snacks which could potentially interfere with allergies.

“We, in today’s day and age, have a lot of kids that come with a myriad of allergies to school,” Mick said. “When we get products that are store bought or prepackaged, when the snacks come in, we are able to clearly look at the ingredients listing and we can make sure that we know everything that is in the snacks that are brought in to school.”

Parents will receive notifications from school staff if students with severe allergies to particular foods, such as peanuts or gluten, are in their child’s classroom. They will “be asked to not send any foods containing this product to school.”

Mick told the Newton Daily News parents were already notified of students with allergies before the new rule was approved.

Students may still bring any foods from home in their lunch bags at the elementary school campuses. Depending on the severity of their allergies, Mick said some children are seated in certain areas of the lunchroom or stand in line with peers in a certain way so they are not affected.

“We just do it because we’re trying to protect all kids,” Mick said. “If one kid gets sick or has an episode, then you start to say, gosh, well was it worth it? It’s just simply for safety.”

Cristy Croson, the NCSD food service supervisor, said parents are often asked to fill out diet modification request forms, which help cafeteria staff to better accommodate students with allergies or disabilities. On the forms, parents describe the medical need of their child and what must be done to adjust his or her meals accordingly.

“We still honor food allergies for all students and make special meals if they need that in the cafeteria,” Croson said. “If they’re gluten free then we have a special meal prepared for them or if we can’t have milk we have an alternative soy milk for ‘em and that type of thing.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext. 6560 or cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com