Austintown schools evaluating food use in light of growing allergies

AUSTINTOWN

Austintown students with allergies vary from the traditional peanut allergy to gluten, dairy, food dyes and vegetables and fruit, based on acid levels within the food.

“It has really expanded to just about anything,” said Bethany Carlson, 504 coordinator for Austintown schools. The number of food allergies has gone from 150 two years ago to more than 400 now, she said — meaning that 10 percent of Austintown students have a food allergy.

Due to the increase in allergies, Austintown is cutting off food for curriculum purposes to re-evaluate food in the schools. “We’re going to reconvene later in the school year to address ways to make it safe,” Carlson said. “Start with a clean slate and go from there.”

An example of using food in curriculum is a counting exercise using candy, such as Skittles or M&Ms, or making bar graphs with candy bars.

Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, it is illegal for organizations that receive federal funding to discriminate against a person for a disability, including a medical disability such as a student with a food allergy. Carlson is the one who makes sure the school is compliant.

She explained the Austintown Board of Education approved two policies in 2010, one for student wellness and another for allergy policies.

Read more about the issue in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.