Lawmakers take field trip to get firsthand taste of school meals

By Daniel J. Chacón, The Santa Fe New Mexican Members of the powerful Senate Finance Committee took a field trip Friday to get a taste of what New Mexico students are eating at school — part of a fact-finding mission as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham champions a proposal to provide pupils free breakfast and lunch regardless […]

Lawmakers take field trip to get firsthand taste of school meals

By Daniel J. Chacón, The Santa Fe New Mexican

Members of the powerful Senate Finance Committee took a field trip Friday to get a taste of what New Mexico students are eating at school — part of a fact-finding mission as Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham champions a proposal to provide pupils free breakfast and lunch regardless of family income.

Four of the 11 committee members — three Democrats and one Republican — boarded an electric bus outside the state Capitol just after 10 a.m. and traveled about six and a half miles to Ramirez Thomas Elementary, a school in southwest Santa Fe where all the students receive free breakfast and lunch. Four other committee members, all Democrats, drove separately and joined their colleagues in the cafeteria to break bread with the students.

“We just wanted to see what a school lunch menu looks like,” said committee Chairman Sen. George Muñoz, D-Gallup. “Are they eating it all? Are they on the more nutritional side? The superintendent told us that they let them go for seconds and the school district picks [up the cost] on their own.”

As the pint-sized pupils were emptying their trays after lunch, Muñoz observed most students were throwing little away.

“This school is [100%] free [breakfast and] lunch, so these are the kids that need it,” he said. “We’ve got to see if they’re getting the right food and they’re liking what they’re getting.”

Under the governor’s $30 million proposal, which was introduced a week-and-a-half ago as Senate Bill 4, public school districts and charter schools would be required to provide “high-quality” breakfast and lunch at no charge to all students. The legislation allows Bureau of Indian Education schools, tribally controlled schools and private schools the option to do so. The bill is scheduled to be reconsidered Monday by the Senate Education Committee, which expressed support for the legislation Wednesday but postponed a vote to give the sponsors time to incorporate recommended changes.

“The $30 million essentially helps to increase the value or the cost per meal to ensure that there’s a healthy component to that meal,” one of the sponsors, Sen. Micheal Padilla, D-Albuquerque, told the committee Wednesday.

“Up to 25% of the additional monies that the districts are going to receive can be used for value-added quality foods that are New Mexico grown, so farmers and ranchers will suddenly be getting some knocks on their doors to bring their products and services into school districts,” he said.

The bill requires students to get at least 20 minutes to eat lunch as part of an effort to reduce waste.

Friday’s menu at Ramirez Thomas included cheese-stuffed breadsticks with marinara sauce, baby carrots, salad, an orange and milk. Of all the menu items, the breadsticks seemed to be the least popular.

“I have to say that the baby carrots were actually some of the best I’ve ever had,” Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill, D-Silver City, said on the ride back to the Roundhouse.

The meal was “tasty,” said Sen. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, who also rode the bus to the school.

“It’s good to see some vegetables and fruit,” he said. “It’s obviously important that it’s healthy and tasty. I complimented the cooks.”

As he ate his lunch, Steinborn’s container of milk sat on the table unopened.

“Some things don’t change,” Steinborn said, adding he would drink his milk.

Steinborn, who went for the breadsticks first, said it was important for lawmakers to get a firsthand look — and taste — at what students in New Mexico are eating.

“We’re talking a lot about funding school meals in New Mexico, so the chair thought, ‘Hey, let’s go experience a school meal.’ It’s been a while since we’ve all had one so we can have kind of an informed conversation about it — and it has been a long time,” he said.

Sen. Nancy Rodriguez, D-Santa Fe, said she was touched by the students.

“They make my day, and they just energize me to do more and more,” she said.

Steinborn said the governor’s proposal raises an important issue.

“Kids can’t learn if they’re hungry, and we know that a lot of kids do come to school hungry,” he said. “It’s important that nutritionally we also get it right.”

Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Hilario “Larry” Chavez said he hopes the Legislature passes the governor’s proposal.

“We know students learn better when they have a full stomach,” he said. “This opens up the opportunity for everyone to eat. It’s no longer who can afford it, who cannot. It’s about leveling the playing field, allowing the opportunity, and it will contribute to better student outcomes.”

Chavez said the district’s menus are “very specific” to what students like to eat, which creates less waste. Asked how school districts can get students to eat healthier items, such as fruits and vegetables, Chavez said students have to be provided the food on their trays.

“If it’s not in front of them, they don’t know what it is,” he said. “By providing fresh vegetables and fruit, you’re giving them the option to at least understand, taste, learn, experiment and hopefully they do pick up better habits.”

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…
Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republican-backed legislation in the U.S. Congress would make it harder for the government to designate new national monuments. The proposed Congressional Oversight of the…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid announced on Wednesday that it will cover the cost of Opill, the first oral contraception approved for over-the-counter use. It is…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

The Navajo Nation and San Juan County reached an agreement Monday about commission districts after the tribe alleged that its members were not adequately…
MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

New Mexico’s 2022 election was ranked most well-run in the country by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab’s Elections Performance Index.…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report