Chatham school board to vote on policy that would add salmon, venison to school meals

The Chatham School District board will vote Tuesday, Oct. 27, on a revised wellness policy that would have Angoon School, Gustavus School, Tenakee Springs Correspondence and Klukwan School use traditional and locally harvested foods such as salmon, halibut, venison, seaweed and berries in school meals, taste tests and nutrition lessons.

The policy says schools would do so to the extent practicable and consistent with food safety requirements and Alaska state regulations. Donated traditional foods would be accepted only under state food safety rules, and traditional foods would be featured and identified on menus. Nutrition lessons could cover the traditional foods of Southeast Alaska and safe handling and storage of harvested fish and game.

The policy would replace a policy adopted May 21, 2019, which exempted traditional cultural foods from nutrition requirements only when they were offered free for educational purposes. Food sold or served in school breakfast or lunch had to meet those requirements. The new version says USDA regulations recognize traditional Indigenous foods as allowable in the federally reimbursed school lunch and breakfast programs.

Superintendent David Langford would lead a wellness committee meeting at least four times a year. Its members would include Principals Emma Demmert of Angoon, Karen McSpadden of Gustavus and Dmitrieva Antal of Klukwan, food service manager Christine Ramey and parent Kristi Kookesh.

Elementary recess would last at least 20 minutes a day. Students would get at least 20 minutes to eat lunch, water would be free all day and food could not be used as a reward or punishment.

The board will also vote on adult meal prices of $5 for breakfast and $8.65 for lunch. The meeting starts at 6 pm.