By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-957792.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – State Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has hit a roadblock in his proposal to shift the school lunch program away from the Department of Education. Lynn Hatter has more.
Putnam says it only makes sense to shift the school lunch program to the Agriculture Department because that's how the program is operated at the federal level. But his idea got push-back from the board, which expressed concern about conflicts of interest and the loss of their control over school lunches. Putnam says the issue of school nutrition shouldn't be a turf battle.
"School lunches are fed in their facilities, they're responsible for those kids 180-days of the year. This isn't about whose sandbox this is in, it's about who can put the best, most nutritious meal on the table and leverage existing dollars into better foods, healthier foods, better foods that our kids can eat."
Board members were careful in their criticism of the proposal, which is being brought by Orlando Democratic Senator Gary Siplin. They suggested the Department of Education and Department of Agriculture work together to improve school nutrition standards.