Teachers could be forced to give up sodas
January 13, 2009
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SAN FRANCISCO — Overworked and exhausted San Francisco public school teachers and principals could be forced to give up their soda machines, as part of an effort to make sure they’re not setting bad health examples for students.
While San Francisco Unified School District teachers and staff are given incentives — under a federally mandated policy — to exercise, eat healthy and stay away from junk food, the district can’t force them to change their ways, according to Trish Bascom, health programs director.
However, it can take the soda machines from teacher break rooms — and that’s just what Board of Education member Jill Wynns is calling for, as the district is updating its student nutrition policy.
The student policy removed soda and candy machines from student cafeterias and locker rooms in 2003, but allowed the machines to remain in teacher break rooms.
“I know of one school, and I won’t name names, where there is a soda machine in the principal’s office,” Wynns said, adding that it sets a bad example if teachers are telling kids not to buy caffeine-laden drinks but sipping one themselves.
Last spring, Wynns proposed pulling junk-food machines from every district-owned property, but some officials at administrative offices, where there are no students on-site, balked at the idea of relinquishing their ice-cold pick-me-ups, Wynns said.
Staff are now considering a modified plan that would focus specifically on getting rid of all soda and candy machines at school district sites. The plan is being drafted by the district health department and will go before the school board in coming months.
No date has been set for the board to review the updated policy, said school district spokeswoman Gentle Blythe.
“I don’t drink soda, but people might need a caffeine boost and don’t particularly like coffee,” said Matthew Hardy, spokesman for the teachers’ union.
The soda kibosh isn’t the only way the school district is pushing its employees into better health habits. Tonight, the board will vote on an updated set of incentives, from discounted gym memberships to low-cost participation in this year’s Bay to Breakers race, aimed at getting school employees to focus on their health.
Roughly 250 participated in the programs, donated by health and fitness organizations, in 2007-08, the first year of the incentives, according to Bascom. She’s aiming to get 500 on board this year.
The offerings range from a chance to run in Bay to Breakers to a series of lectures, donated by UC San Francisco, on nutrition and stress management.
