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The Nebraska City school board approved new student handbooks Monday leaving open a discussion regarding energy drinks.
Middle School Principal Jenny Powell said there are an increasing number of students who bring energy drinks to the breakfast period before school starts.
“They bring these giant energy drinks in the morning and have them at lunch,” she said.
Powell said staff is concerned about the health impact of the drinks because of their ingredients and interaction with prescribed medications.
Mayme Jordan of the high school told the board that students would like to be a part of the discussion regarding drinks.
Principal Brian Hoover said the high school student council wonders where this path will lead. “When they hear 'health issues' they wonder what will be banned next, whether it's cookies or cappuccino. They want to see where this will go,” he said.
Superintendent Jeff Edwards said school officials and board members need more time to consider what they hope to accomplish.
“For some people Mountain Dew is more of an energy booster than any official energy drink,” he said.
He said there are questions about defining and energy drink and whether the school wants to regulate what can be included in a sack lunch brought from home.
Teri Stukenholtz of the board said she is concerned when she sees Hayward-aged kids with energy drinks. “I just want to take them away, but I realize that I am not their parent.”
Hayward Principal Scot Davis said regulating food and drinks brought from home has traditionally been the responsibility of parents. He said the school might present parents with information regarding health affects of energy drinks and possible interactions with medicines.
Edwards said the school board could approve student handbooks at the Monday meeting and make amendments later.
Changes to the student handbook include an update to the truancy policy to reflect school policy. Currently, state law requires a letter to be sent to truancy officers if a student misses more than 20 days of school.
Edwards said Nebraska City typically sends a letter to the Otoe County attorney's office much earlier than that. He said some educators would prefer the letters would go out only regarding “unexcused” absences.
The board also approved changes to the graduation requirements, so that 30 credit hours of science with a certified teacher are required. The school currently requires 20 hours.
The amount of elective classes required was reduced 10 hours to 70 to accommodate the extra 10 hours added to science. The total number of hours required remains the same at 240.
Students have eight periods a day and have earn credits for six of those per semester to graduate.
Hoover said increasing the number of total credits hours would threaten the graduation three to four students per year.
In response to the additional science requirements, the school is considering adding a class with a difficulty level between biology and chemistry.
The Nebraska City school board approved new student handbooks Monday leaving open a discussion regarding energy drinks.
Middle School Principal Jenny Powell said there are an increasing number of students who bring energy drinks to the breakfast period before school starts.
“They bring these giant energy drinks in the morning and have them at lunch,” she said.
Powell said staff is concerned about the health impact of the drinks because of their ingredients and interaction with prescribed medications.
Mayme Jordan of the high school told the board that students would like to be a part of the discussion regarding drinks.
Principal Brian Hoover said the high school student council wonders where this path will lead. “When they hear 'health issues' they wonder what will be banned next, whether it's cookies or cappuccino. They want to see where this will go,” he said.
Superintendent Jeff Edwards said school officials and board members need more time to consider what they hope to accomplish.
“For some people Mountain Dew is more of an energy booster than any official energy drink,” he said.
He said there are questions about defining and energy drink and whether the school wants to regulate what can be included in a sack lunch brought from home.
Teri Stukenholtz of the board said she is concerned when she sees Hayward-aged kids with energy drinks. “I just want to take them away, but I realize that I am not their parent.”
Hayward Principal Scot Davis said regulating food and drinks brought from home has traditionally been the responsibility of parents. He said the school might present parents with information regarding health affects of energy drinks and possible interactions with medicines.
Edwards said the school board could approve student handbooks at the Monday meeting and make amendments later.
Changes to the student handbook include an update to the truancy policy to reflect school policy. Currently, state law requires a letter to be sent to truancy officers if a student misses more than 20 days of school.
Edwards said Nebraska City typically sends a letter to the Otoe County attorney's office much earlier than that. He said some educators would prefer the letters would go out only regarding “unexcused” absences.
The board also approved changes to the graduation requirements, so that 30 credit hours of science with a certified teacher are required. The school currently requires 20 hours.
The amount of elective classes required was reduced 10 hours to 70 to accommodate the extra 10 hours added to science. The total number of hours required remains the same at 240.
Students have eight periods a day and have earn credits for six of those per semester to graduate.
Hoover said increasing the number of total credits hours would threaten the graduation three to four students per year.
In response to the additional science requirements, the school is considering adding a class with a difficulty level between biology and chemistry.
