Torrance Schools Prepare For Fundraising Changes

As of July 1, 2007 California Senate Bill 12, which mandates sweeping changes in what snacks may be present on campuses, will go into effect. This will literally changed the landscape of school fundraising and vending in California.

Surprisingly, many schools are unprepared for the new changes or unaware entirely of the need for healthy fundraising solutions! A lot of this has to do with the fact the manufacturers and distributors who have supplied chocolate, candy and other junk food for fundraising in the past certainly aren't letting schools know that the products they offer will soon be illegal on California campuses.

What California Senate Bill 12 requires is that all foods sold outside of the school food programs to students (from National Association of State Boards of Education)on school grounds at middle and high school be approved for compliance with the nutrition standards, effective July 1, 2007. Foods generally regarded as snacks must contain not more than 35 percent of calories from fat, 10 percent of calories from saturated fat, 35 percent sugar by weight, and no more than 250 calories per item.

The bottom line, most schools are unprepared, but soon will need to search for healthy fundraising solutions. One school district which has already done this is the Torrance Unified School District. Seeking to be ahead of the curve and prepare for California Senate Bill 12, the North Torrance High school programs has implemented fundraising with its Track Team, led by Coach Mary Schena, which complies with new regulations before they are in effect.

Other programs within the Torrance Unified School District have similarly sought out healthy fundraising solutions before the law goes into effect. They are doing this in advance so they will be able to successfully fundraise next year, and because seeking out healthy fundraising solutions is the right thing to do.

California and especially the Torrance Unified School District are at the forefront of standing up for what is right where youth nutrition is concerned. However, many other states are following suit, either by enacting state laws of their own or encouraging each and every school district to craft their own nutrition and wellness policy.

Additionally, many schools have joined the USDA Team Nutrition program where they voluntarily comply with regulations to become certified as a Team Nutrition school. To get this certification, these schools agree that snacks present on their campuses will contain not more than 35 percent fat, 35 percent sugar, 10 percent saturated fat, and not more than 200 calories.

In this way, the Torrance Unified School District in California is at the front of the movement of schools across the country seeking healthy fundraising solutions.