Letters to the Editor 08/30/2017

To the Editor:

In your August 27 article regarding school bond projects ("Work continues on school bond projects," page 1) you mentioned the consideration of a "turf" field at Reed Stadium.

I am unclear as to your meaning as "turf" refers to grass. And Reed Stadium has the best grass "turf" football field in the tri-counties. Did you mean to say that the board is considering installing an artificial turf football field?. Please clarify the intent of the Sisters School Board.

Thanks.

Rob Phelps

Editor's reply: The district has considered installation of an artificial turf playing surface, using additional funds that became available in the bond process. Discussions on that issue have been tabled.

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To the Editor:

With the new school year upon us, parents turn their attention to school clothes, school supplies, and school food. Yes, school food!

More than 31 million children rely on school meals for their daily nutrition, which too often consists of highly processed food laden with saturated fat. Not surprisingly, one-third of our children have become overweight or obese. Their early dietary flaws become lifelong addictions, raising their risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.

To compound the problem, the Trump administration has loosened Obama's 2010 school lunch rules calling for whole grains, fat-free milk, and reduced salt content. The rules had an 86 percent approval rating.

Fortunately, many U.S. school districts now offer vegetarian options. More than 120 schools, including the entire school districts of Baltimore, Boston, Buffalo, Detroit, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Oakland, Philadelphia, and San Diego have implemented Meatless Monday.

As parents, we need to involve our own children and school cafeteria managers in promoting healthy, plant-based foods in our local schools. Entering "vegan options in schools" in a search engine provides lots of useful resources.

Skyler Nash