By PETE KLEIN

Express News Staff

LONG LAKE - Some children are complaining they are hungry at Long Lake Central School, resulting in the school sending letters to parents in an effort to explain the problem.

The problem was discussed when the Board of Education met Thursday, Sept. 13.

As Superintendent Mary Jo Dickerson explained, new U.S. Department of Agricul-ture Food and Nutrition Service guidelines for school lunches took effect this fall, including the first national calorie and sodium limits for what can be served on school lunch lines.

The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act is intended to improve the health and wellbeing of students by improving the nutritional quality of school meal programs.

Schools that participate in the National School Lunch Program must now offer students both fruits and vegetables each school day, serve more foods rich in whole grains, serve only fat-free or low-fat milk, limit calories based on the age of the children being served to ensure proper portion size; and increase the focus on reducing the amounts of saturated fat, trans fats and sodium in meals.

The school’s letter to parents says portion sizes “may seem small,” and dessert and soup cost extra. Also, seconds cost extra, even for those on free or reduced price meal plans.

Board member Christine Blumberg believes the smaller, low calorie portions could be a real problem for student athletes.

The board members agreed to write a letter to the state and/or federal governments to complain.

Students and their parents do have an option. Dickerson said there is no law requiring students to be limited to what is served in the cafeteria. They may bring their own lunch or bring extra food to eat with their school lunch.

OTHER BUSINESS

• The board approved Nichole Meyette as the advisor for the Class of 2013.

• Brooke Haruple was approved as a substitute teacher pending fingerprint clearance.

• Dickerson said the Shared Decision Making Committee is looking for volunteer members. Anyone interested should contact Dickerson at 624-2221.

The board will next meet Thursday, Oct. 11, starting at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria.