5 things: NYC school chief resigns following travel investigation

Each Friday I compile a list that highlights five things you probably missed in the news that week and why you should care about them.

Here’s your list for the week of Nov. 6:

1. Fla. School called out for lunch “segregation”  

A move made by one Florida high school to encourage students to keep their grades up and not miss school is backfiring and being called “segregation” by some parents and students. In the program, students who keep their grades up (higher than a 2.0 GPA) and keep absences in check (no more than four in any class) and a few other criteria are allowed to eat lunch outside the cafeteria. Students who don’t meet those requirements say they are forced to stay the entire lunch period in the cafeteria, which they say is crowded. District officials say there are enough seats to accommodate those students who are not on track, but students say other students are sitting on the floor.

Read more: Students segregated at lunch based on grades, attendance

2. NYC school foodservice chief resigns following travel investigation

The NYC school meals program has run into some issues of late, including pieces of metal in chicken and moldy food. But a new CBS report is questioning travel for foodservice employees that was paid for by manufacturers. The cost of the trips amounted to $75,000. The NYC school meals department is the largest in the country and some sources cited by CBS say those trips were a way of “wining and dining” in the hopes of getting a contract. NYC school officials say the travel was approved and follows regulations, but Dennis Barrett, executive director of School Food, resigned following the turnover of the documents to CBS.

Read more: CBS2 Exclusive: Amid Contaminated School Food Complaints, Documents Show DOE Execs Took Trips Paid For By Food Makers

3. Ohio University dining employee arrested for “terrorist threats”

A dining services employee at Ohio University was arrested this week for making what the police called “terrorist threats.” The employee reportedly sent a text message that read: “You guys want trouble now you got it!!! I’m (expletive) taken (sic) us all done (sic) at 2 o’clock!! And I think it’s funny!!! Be prepared (expletive)!!!” The employee was arrested on campus, and has denied that he made any such threats.

Read more: OU dining-hall worker denies charge he made ‘terrorist threats’

4. College donates leftover food from football games to shelter

Texas Christian University (TCU) and dining services provider Sodexo have begun donating leftover food from the university’s football games to a local homeless shelter. The food is packaged by Sodexo and given to TCU Food Recovery Network, a student organization that aims to eliminate food waste on campus. The food is then given to a homeless shelter. The food is all ready to eat and is stored in the freezer for service Monday. The first donation was 1,000 pounds.

Read more: Here’s what TCU does with 1,000 pounds of leftovers after football games 

5.  College starts vegan group to expand offerings on campus
A new team of vegan students was assembled at the University of Minnesota to help the college expand its vegan options. The team was created by Aramark, the college’s dining services provider, and the campus sustainability coordinator, who is a vegan. Students are required to have a meal plan and some vegan students complained there weren’t enough options. Aramark assembled the team to help rectify the problem.Read more: New vegan group hopes to expand options in dining halls  

http://www.mndaily.com/article/2017/11/n-new-vegan-group-hopes-to-expand-options-in-dining-halls

Bonus: New legislation allows Texas schools to create on-campus pantries

Contact Becky Schilling at [email protected].

Follow her on Twitter: @bschilling_FM