Food talk dominates W-MU agenda

By SALLY Y. HAYES

Mt. Pleasant News

WINFIELD ? Nutrition, new menus and breakfasts were a big topic of conversation at the Winfield-Mt. Union School Board meeting Wednesday evening.

According to Barb Pealer the school is attempting to meet a proposed challenge of increasing breakfast participation by 20 percent or more this school year than last year. Pealer read from a letter she received on Aug. 23, ?The Iowa Department of Education in collaboration with the Midwest Area Council is kicking off the Iowa School Breakfast Challenge. This is an exciting challenge among Iowa schools to increase their breakfast participation during the 2011-2012 school year.?

To meet the goal W-MU needs to serve approximately 39 breakfasts daily. Pealer explained, ?For the first two weeks of school we averaged 58, which is pretty good. In September we averaged 74 (daily).?

Pealer also explained that she is following the Iowa Gold Star menus that meat the criteria set by the Healthy Kids Act. She is also using local food sources to get fresh fruits and vegetables incorporated with the meals.

The board discussed the new entrees and salad bar. ?I think it?s great that you?re introducing some new tastes to them (students),? said Robin Therme, school board president.

Water is now available to students at lunch, in addition to the three choices of milk: chocolate, two-percent and skim.

In the superintendent report, Pat Coen spoke of Governor Branstad?s ?blueprint for education? and reported back on a town hall meeting he attended in Washington.

Coen stated, ?I came away pretty excited. It?s an exciting time to be in education.?

He understands that there will be hiccups in bumps in the road. ?It?s going to be like most things that come through legislation; the intent and spirit has the right intentions but when they get to the letter of the law there will be some things in there that might be a little challenging. But we?ll work through it.?

Coen believes that W-MU is on the ball with many of the issues that are facing change. W-MU has increased professional development, adopted the Accelerated Reader Program and has invested in technology for students and teachers alike.

?We?re not stagnant. I would much rather be moving forward than standing still,? said Coen.

He also reported that the meeting discussed retaining third graders that are not reading proficiently. There will be exceptions for certain groups and summer school programs will be implemented to assist students in continuing to the fourth grade if they miss the mark at the end of third grade.

Also according to Coen, enrollment is down 12 students compared to last year; the board credited this to a large graduating senior class in 2011.

In other business the board appointed representatives to two organizations. John Vantiger will sit on the SIAC committee and Dan Shurr will sit on the Henry County Conference Board. Also, a presentation was given to explain school finances to the newly inducted school board.

Amy Wedeking reported that the elementary students are currently learning fire safety and will be participating in Drug Free Week beginning Oct. 28.