LAUSD robs us of beloved food sales

Posted on November 17, 2014 by Franklin Franco in Op-Ed

Franklin Franco

Chronicle Reporter

LAUSD continues to make things harder for kids at school with the new policies that are a part of their Wellness Initiative. The new policies were recently implemented in schools throughout the district and have caused administrators to cancel the food sale that was originally scheduled for Nov. 21. This has left a few clubs to try and figure out what else they will be able to do.

I think that LAUSD has made things harder for students with so many rules when it comes to what we can and cannot sell on campus. Such policies frustrate me as president of the Junior Class Council since it means the juniors have to think of other ways of getting money so we can have a chance at graduating at the Bowl next year. So many of us were relying on the food sale to give us a chance at quick and easy money, but now we need to leave behind any ideas we had and try to move on to something that we can rely on for the time being.

Other clubs have also responded negatively to the new policy since so many clubs live off of the money that is brought in with food sales. Since it is not for sure if or when the food sales will be able to come back, other clubs have to try to do other things, and that can be a very frustrating thing for everyone involved with these clubs.

I understand that LAUSD is trying to promote a healthy lifestyle, but all these new restrictions only hurt us, not benefit us. Clubs have to comply with the “approved list” for foods and beverages, but no one really has access to such a list. Another issue that arises is trying to avoid competing with the Student Store since it too has to follow the new rules.

LAUSD needs to reconsider all the strict rules because its hard for anyone to try to find some sort of loophole. The new criteria is very specific and really forces people to watch what they are gonna sell. Complex policies such as this one only makes people want to sell junk food for quick money since LAUSD only adds on more and more obstacles. This new policy only forces the school to sell things the students will not buy, and will make other students sell other things to satisfy the student body. So even though LAUSD might be trying to improve our eating habits, they are actually indirectly contributing to this “black market” that goes on in our campus on a daily basis, which also hurts the Student Store.