The American School Food Service Association (ASFSA) remember them? Some who read this blog may remember how much I was against the name change to School Nutrition Association. So, what's in a name? Let's look at it.
One says it is an association that represents the "school food service"; the other that it represents "school nutrition". School nutrition, who could be against that? Well, when I see what "wellness" has done to self-supporting programs, the number it has pushed to a Food Service Management Company (FSMC), and the number of employees who have had hours cut in order to save local taxpayers money, I say "I tried to tell you". And, I am against it.
Consider this, can the SNA ever take a stand against the cost of wellness? No, it would be totally contradictory to their name. In my opinion, they support only nutrition in the school community, regardless of its cost; they no longer support the "school food service program".
Like many other aspects of today's society where, some want a name change to support their agenda, we have supported a change that removed the name American and school food service from the name of the association that is supposed to represent us. This group now supports any effort that creates a mandate for others to subscribe to their point of view. If you can't convince them, legislate. Moreover, they have now geared up so many vendors and food producers, and distributors to move to more expensive "nutritional foods", that these "producers" now contribute many dollars to keep the SNA pushing "nutrition", in order that they do not lose money on the product changes they have made.
There is nothing wrong with nutrition, or encouraging good nutrition. However, as I have written a thousand times, good nutrition cannot be mandated, it must be learned and that learning must begin in the home and in the CLASSROOM. Teach students at the elementary level about nutrition and how to make the informed healthy decision when they get to the cafeteria. Stop putting our cafeterias in debt, stop threatening staff with labor cuts, and stop pushing our programs into the hands of a FSMC, all in the name of "wellness". And leave the secondary schools out of it. These students drive to school with a coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other, yet we tell them they can't have a potato chip in the cafeteria. These same students rush out the doors at 3:00pm and reach for another cigarette.
I know all this sounds political, but that is not my intent. I am tired, a consultant, who has sat with many Superintendents, Business Officials, and Board Members behind closed doors and heard that "this operational loss can't continue", or "these district subsidies can't go on". "Unless there is change, we are going to a Management Company". Then I walk down stairs and see students with Dunkin Donuts coffee cups in their hands, or I see them tossing them in a trash can in front of school before entering the building. I say to the staff, "there is money to be made here", let's serve coffee at breakfast, Dunkin Donuts style breakfast sandwiches, etc. And, what do I hear? "We can't do that", and I ask why? Oh, because of the caffeine "they" won't allow it. I respond, "fine serve de-cafe" and then I hear "we don't have the time for all that". In other instances the principal's morning schedule prohibits time for breakfast. I think, great, when the management company comes in they will do all those things anyway, for less money, and with fewer "hands" to help.
Before I forget this, let's not forget that breakfast is a huge money maker and can save a lot of jobs, yet building principals control the extent to which we can offer this "money making" and very nutritional service to students. I have never seen a FSMC operate a school program and not immediately focus on breakfast, the unrealized source of big money for the program. Despite all of this, I have never heard the SNA step up, and talk about the effect morning schedules have on breakfast at school, on nutrition, or the self supporting status of a program.
I have been proud, to be a consultant, who rarely ever recommended cutting or reducing labor hours. I could always find a way to keep "excess hours" working to improve the program or to generate additional program revenue. Now, for the first time this year, I find myself saying "you have no choice but to cut hours, or to renegotiate the current labor contract". One is easy, the other "easier said than done".
You all may disagree but "wellness" is expensive and that expense is being paid for "on the backs" of our food service staff".
As a consultant, I used to enter a district, knowing that I was there to help, that I could save jobs, and help improve the program. Now, I worry that I will hear, "oh no, here he comes"; "we are going to have hours cut, or the district is looking at a management company." I fear that my presence now has a depressive effect rather than being viewed as a pro-active approach by the administration.
If you know me, you know that I once served on a State SFSA executive board for 9 years, and worked to support the ASFSA. Today, I have no use for the SNA. Why, because they do not represent the school food service worker, but want dues money from these hard working professionals, to lobby for "politically correct" legislation.
I work from home (unless I am in the field), and I always have a news channel on the TV - CNN or Fox, and I never hear anything from the SNA about what is happening to school food service programs in this country. They have the power, the money, and the name to stand up and speak for all of us, to take out full page ads in the major newspapers, yet they do not. Their officers have salaries, and benefits, and are secure in their jobs. These same benefits are the first that are looked at and taken away from members when their program loses money, or goes to a management company.
While the SNA may lobby and ask for more money for school feeding programs, they know that by getting schools more money, they make more money. Do they ever stand up and discuss the cost of wellness in schools or the need for moderation, no it would be contradictory to their name. Do they offer to provide technical assistance to programs that are facing a management company contract? No, they do not. Sometime check out the large donators and contributors to the SNA, you will find the large FSMC's on that list. Hmmmmm! So what's in a name? A lot.
Anyway, I had to get this off my chest. Have a good day, and don't be afraid to speak up about the cost of "wellness" to your program. Teach good nutrition, don't mandate it. Lastly, never think that I am opposed to wellness or good nutrition, I am not. I am opposed to unfunded mandates that end up costing people their jobs.
2 comments:
I am really surprised no one else has commented here. I do belong just recently I rejoined but now in the magazine I receive I see these wonderful parties they are throwing and I notice who their advertisers are and then I see to go to a conference takes more money than I would ever ask my school to spend or on a managers wages have to spend myself.
I wonder at these shin digs does anyone invited work in the trenches or have they ever. Do they mop floors or wash endless dishes spending hours on their feet usually on cement floors. Somewhere a purpose has been lost. While I am sure they do some good and maybe the only thing our government listens to anymore are lobbyists, I too can see where they could better help those struggling to feed children on what little money they are given to do so.
Post a Comment