Food fight breaks out at school board meeting
Published 10:06 am Saturday, April 26, 2008
POULSBO — People are eating on the sly in the new North Kitsap High School gym.
Parents Maryanne Huggins and Lael Stock think it’s ridiculous the ban on food necessitates sneakiness so they convinced the North Kitsap School District board of directors to change the policy during its regular meeting Dec. 13.
The board decided to allow food in the gym during high school athletic competitions, with one provision. The NKHS Booster Club must work with NKSD administrators to ensure the gym is clean after games.
Food is still not allowed during Poulsbo Parks and Recreation games, said Chris Case, NKSD director of communications and community relations.
The parents made compelling arguments to sway the board’s opinion.
“I’ve seen grandmas eating popcorn out of their purse,” Huggins told the board.
Food became contraband in the gym when the district had wood floors installed in 2005. The decision was a contentious one, as the concessions sold at the school’s basketball games benefit the sports programs that volunteer to run the concession stands.
After a bit of research, Stock reported to the board that of 11 schools in the Narrows League, nine allow food in their gyms.
“None of those schools have experienced any injury to athletes or fans due to the food,” she said. “No one remembers food fights or bottles thrown or tripping on spills.”
She argued the reasoning behind the food ban — so the floors won’t be damaged — is invalid. She pointed out custodians are always on duty during varsity games, and athletes from other sports volunteer to pick up the trash after games.
“Personally, I find it insulting that we would think members of our community are so irresponsible or immature that they are not capable of eating food without creating a mess,” Stock said. “But since we haven’t been giving them the opportunity to eat in the gym, we don’t know if this is true.”
The food ban drew ire from those who purchased food and then were told they couldn’t eat it in the gym. It also had an adverse affect on concession sales and the ability to get volunteers so the concessions can be open for the games, Huggins said.
“I soon understood why the concession stand wasn’t always open. It’s no fun serving up food only to have people angry with you because they can’t take it into the gym like other schools,” Huggins said.
Besides that, being able to munch on a hot dog while watching a high school basketball game should be an inalienable right, Stock said. She also extended a personal invitation to the school board members to attend a NKHS basketball game to witness for themselves the school’s athletic rebirth.
“There is a renewal of school spirit and energy from both adults and students,” she said. “We have a large group of students cheering for their team. And that is where we want those students: in a safe, drug-free environment. But if you’re going to hassle them for eating chips in the stands, they’re not going to feel welcome and they’re going to leave.”
