New Hope-Solebury School Board members Montu Patel and Deirdre Alderfer recently challenged the district administration to review its food service policy guidelines and student dress codes.
“I implore the administration to evaluate how we can get to where we can foster lifelong healthy eating habits which it says in our guidelines,” Patel said during the Feb. 23 board meeting. “We are failing our students at this today. I know in the past we have tried to provide a more healthy cafeteria dining experience and it was not successful. There was lot of waste. It was not the right approach.”
Alderfer agreed, citing the “walking tacos” option as an example.
She also urged the administration to take a hard look at the dress codes policy changes which “disproportionately targets females.”
Alderfer stated the policy as it stands should be enough as to what the students should be wearing in school.
“We might not need four different dress codes for four different schools,” she said.
After reminding everyone it was the 21st century, board member Dana Schwartz added “We should trust our students. We are glad they’re back right? Let them express themselves.”
In other meeting news, the administrative team presented its vision for a new comprehensive plan. This document outlines initiatives for the district and is developed every three years.
Superintendent Dr. Charles Lentz stated there were 90 stakeholders involved in developing the district’s aspirational goal. The aim is to support innovation, inclusion and authentic personalized learning, which fosters the development of the whole student.
The board praised the administration for its tenacity over the last three years, achieving what it did during the pandemic.
“We had a lot of ground to catch up on and didn’t want to fall behind,” said Lentz.
During the meeting, Alderfer also mentioned the grand opening of the STEAM lab, which had been delayed due to shipping and supply issues.
Dr. Andrew Ordover, representing the curriculum committee, announced a music trip for 70 students to Salzburg, Prague and Vienna for seven nights in Feb. 2024 that includes a masterclass by the Vienna Philharmonic conductor.
Ordover also reported that summer academy plans have been approved and information will be going out in May about the size and scope for this year.
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