JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
The Marion County Board of Education recently passed both this year’s nutrition civil rights policy, as well approval of contracts with several contractors for various school projects.
According to Mark Griffith, Director of Marion County Schools, the policy is federally mandated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which every school district and board must abide by each year. The policy in particular is regarding required training for school staff and faculty to participate in to follow up with all civil rights policies regulated by the USDA.
The regulations pertains equal and fair treatment and access to meals for all students at every school. The policies ensure that each student is given equal opportunities for different nutritional items, without discrimination from school faculty.
Danita Taylor, School Nutrition Director for the county, explained how each school is labeled a CEP facility (Community Eligibility Provision), meaning every school provides both breakfast and lunch to all students at no charge. The civil rights policy aims to protect student rights to breakfast and lunch items from discrimination, with all staff receiving training to follow and abide by all USDA and CEP guidelines.
“It’s not about adults and it’s not about the employees. It’s about the students, treating all of them equally and fairly, and making sure that each child has access to the same choices and the same nutrition,” explained Taylor.
During this past month’s meeting, several payments and contracts for various school projects were also approved by the board. A contract regarding Integrated Builds LLC was examined, with it pertaining to South Pittsburg High School’s ongoing greenhouse project, and future greenhouse projects in the works for Whitwell and Marion County High Schools. Additional contracts and payments include a contract with OLG Services LLC for the renovation of Whitwell High’s auditorium, as well as payments towards Kaatz, Binkley, Jones, & Morris Architects Inc. for the auditorium project. They were also approved for the locker replacement projects and for several partial re-roofings for several schools throughout the county.
All items were unanimously passed by the board, with the civil rights policy now in effect and work on all projects still ongoing.