Parents rally to save breakfast in classroom program

May 3—Union officials representing Los Angeles Unified School District cafeteria workers led a noisy rally of parents Tuesday to save the classroom breakfast program that feeds nearly 200,000 children but was in danger of being axed after sharp criticism by teachers.

Even as the majority of LAUSD school board members indicated they would vote to continue the program, about 100 parents turned out at Hooper Elementary School in South L.A., waving noisemakers and signs in Spanish and English to save the breakfasts.

One mother, Janet Torrez, said her two sons prefer to eat at school rather than at home but that a previous before-school meal program didn’t work because the children chose to play during the time instead. The classroom breakfast, she said, ensures her sons start their school day with a nutritious meal.