Approval of the 2022-23 handbook for Lehighton Area Elementary Center’s Pre-K Counts program will have to wait at least a few more weeks as several questions popped up Monday night including a restriction on outside snacks and drinks for students.

Lehighton’s board of directors tabled the handbook approval and agreed to revisit discussion at its Aug. 8 workshop.

Of particular interest was a paragraph in the handbook that states, “You may send your child to school with a healthy meal from home. No candy, chips, cookies, brownies, soda or other sugary drinks are allowed.”

“What makes the school an expert on nutrition?” district taxpayer Janice Collins told the board, urging it not to approve the handbook as written. “You’re going to tell parents they can’t bring cookies, potato chips, or a sugary drink to school? What if some mother thoughtfully made homemade cookies? They can use healthy ingredients and you’re going to tell the mom, no you can’t send them to school with your child.”

Elementary Principal Aaron Sebelin said Pre-K students are in the building for 2.5 hours either in the morning or afternoon. Both sessions do include school-provided meals.

“As far as snacks, we do have discussions with parents and try to work with them on providing something healthy,” Sebelin said.

Lehighton’s Pre-K Counts program is funded with grant money and Sebelin said there is wording in the grant that pertains to nutrition.

Director April Walker said the fact that students are restricted from bringing in treats for birthday parties also “jumped out to her” when reading the handbook.

A districtwide student wellness policy states that, “classroom parties shall offer a minimal amount of foods, maximum 2-3 items, containing added sugar as the primary ingredient (e.g., cupcakes, cookies). When possible, food/beverages for parties and celebrations shall be provided by the food service department to help prevent food safety and allergy concerns.”

The school board passed several other handbooks Monday night, including those for elementary center, middle school, high school and Lehighton Area Virtual Academy students. Most of the handbooks passed pending several wording changes. Director Barbara Bowes, for example, requested that a line be added to inform parents they can opt their child out of standardized testing for religious reasons.

“It states throughout the LAVA handbook that children have to be in school for Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests, etc., so I think we need to let them know they do have an option to opt out,” Bowes said.

To opt out of a test such as the PSSA, a parent must visit the school, look through the test and provide a reason why it conflicts with their religious beliefs.

While the number of testing opt outs can impact funding to school districts, Middle School Principal Stephen Ebbert said “we see only a handful of exemptions each year.”