Before deciding about food, Seattle School Board buys its own

By Sanjay Bhatt
Seattle Times staff reporter

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But not before hungry district staff and members of the public ran across the street to McDonald's to get dinner.

In a session that began at 6 p.m., the timed lights on the board's dais went out at 11:30 p.m., but the meeting wasn't adjourned till 12:15 a.m. Fewer than six people not on the district's payroll remained to the end.

Here's a look at some of the board's actions:

Junk food: New food policies will make certified organic slaw, fresh fruit and smaller portions the norm on the à la carte trays in school cafeterias, student stores and vending machines. Schools will have to implement the policies no later than January.

The district's exclusive contract with Coca-Cola will be canceled by the end of the 2004-05 school year.

Furthermore, next year all beverages sold at school and school activities must not contain caffeine — except that old favorite, chocolate milk.

Because the new policies are expected to cost student-activity funds districtwide about $315,000, the board directed the superintendent to explain by Jan. 1 how the district can help offset the financial impact to student groups.

Graduation requirements: The classes of 2005, 2006 and 2007 will no longer have to meet the 20-book reading requirement, which instead has been incorporated into language arts classes, or writing and math-proficiency standards.

Beginning with the class of 2008, students won't have to write a research paper but will have to fulfill the state mandate to complete a senior project. Other state requirements include passing the 10th-grade Washington Assessment of Student Learning and writing goals for high school and a year beyond.

The board also raised the number of required elective credits to 5.5 to comply with state law.
 
Transgender protection: District policies prohibit school staff and students from being harassed or discriminated against based on their race, color, religion or economic status, among other things.

The School Board added "gender identity" to that list yesterday to protect transgender students and school staff. Transgender persons exhibit behaviors of or may resemble the opposite sex. Sanjay Bhatt: 206-464-3103 or sbhatt@seattletimes.com