SUMMERTON - Clarendon School District 1 Superintendent Dr. Rose Wilder is headed to Washington, D.C.
She will take part in a national gathering in the nation's capital in support of efforts to improve school nutrition on March 30 and April 1, she said. She will meet with Sens. Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott and Rep. Joe Wilson and others to "share examples of how the Clarendon 1 and other school districts in South Carolina are at the forefront of a national school health movement by serving and selling healthier meals, snacks and drinks to students," Wilder said.
Wilder said Clarendon 1 began making changes to its food and beverage choices several years ago.
"It is now serving more fruits and vegetables, offers more whole grains and low-fat milk, and has replaced sugary drinks with healthier fruit drinks," she said. "Healthier portions of meals are also being served. Throughout the process, Clarendon 1 has worked to generate student support and has maintained overall school food service revenue."
Clarendon 1 is a member of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Healthy Schools Program. Healthier nutrition standards for school meals went into effect fall 2012. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that many in South Carolina are meeting the updated standards.
The healthy changes being made in Clarendon 1 make it a model of success in South Carolina and throughout the country, Wilder noted.
The Pew Charitable Trusts is paying for the national gathering, as well as hosting it.
