Albany Parents Demand Longer Lunch Breaks for Students

A growing number of parents in Albany are expressing concerns over the short duration of lunch periods at Greater Albany Public Schools (GAPS). Many believe that the current schedule, which allocates just 15 minutes for students to eat, is insufficient and is prompting calls for change. A petition initiated by local parent Ashley Caldwell has garnered over 500 signatures since its launch earlier this week, highlighting widespread dissatisfaction among families.

Caldwell, who has two children enrolled in GAPS, indicated that her sixth-grade son returns home hungry despite having no complaints about the cafeteria food. She argues that students should be afforded a reasonable amount of time to enjoy their meals.

According to Becca Mallery, spokesperson for GAPS, elementary school students have a total of 40 minutes for lunch, divided into 20 minutes for eating and 20 minutes for recess. Middle schools operate under a similar structure, while high school students also receive a 40-minute lunch period with additional passing time. Mallery noted that these lunch schedules have been in place for several years, although she could not provide specific details on their inception.

Some parents believe that peer pressure may contribute to students leaving the cafeteria early. During a recent school board meeting, one parent voiced her concerns about the inadequate lunch periods, advocating for a longer timeframe. Comparatively, the nearby Corvallis School District offers middle school students 30-minute lunch periods, with elementary students receiving generally 20 minutes.

The Oregon Department of Education has stated there is no state regulation mandating specific lunch durations. However, Peter Rudy, a spokesperson for the department, highlighted that the federal National School Lunch Program encourages schools to provide sufficient time for students to eat.

Parent Chanel Protzman, who has four children in GAPS, articulated her concerns at the school board meeting. “I don’t feel 15 minutes is enough time for our children to arrive in the lunch room, wait in line, find a seat and eat their food,” she stated. Protzman emphasized the stress this creates for students, noting they often come home feeling hungry.

Caldwell echoed these sentiments, insisting that students should not have to choose between eating and enjoying their recess. The discussion surrounding lunch periods comes as GAPS recently transitioned to a new food vendor, Genuine Foods, which aims to enhance meal quality through more scratch-cooking. This change was initiated after the school board approved a one-year emergency contract with the vendor earlier this year.

Despite the promise of improved food quality, the transition has led to increased demands on the already strained kitchen staff. Autumn Mulles, a lunch staff member at West Albany High School, expressed concerns about staffing shortages as the kitchen has taken on additional responsibilities, preparing meals for other schools. She remarked, “I love being a lunch lady, and I love serving my kids, but we are slacking as lunch ladies because we don’t have enough staff.”

In response to Mulles’ comments, Mallery acknowledged that the district is facing challenges during this transition phase. The GAPS Business and Finance director, Jane Nofziger, reported that the district’s classified union representing food service workers has requested impact bargaining due to the contract change. This has led to adjustments in salary schedules and a 3% cost-of-living increase for food service staff, resulting in an estimated $75,000 in additional expenses. For context, last year’s salary and payroll costs for food service workers amounted to $2.9 million.

As discussions about lunch periods continue, many parents remain hopeful for a resolution that ensures students have adequate time to eat, without sacrificing playtime or adding stress to their school day.