Healthier Lunches in Tacoma Public Schools - Signatures

WHEREAS Tacoma's school children rely on school meals for a substantial portion of their daily nutrition;

WHEREAS Children learn their eating habits, good or bad, from what adults offer them;

WHEREAS Tacoma Public Schools currently offer children a fast food style menu;

WHEREAS Pierce County has the highest childhood obesity rate, per capita, in Washington state;

WHEREAS Tacoma Public Schools have an opportunity to benefit from federal funding through the ACHIEVE program if they take action now;

WE THE UNDERSIGNED urge the Tacoma Public Schools to immediately begin planning and implementing a healthier menu pilot program in one or more Tacoma schools, to begin next fall, with the goal of moving to district-wide adoption within one school year.

We pledge our support for improved childhood nutrition in Tacoma. We will support this effort by purchasing these healthier school lunches, encouraging our students to eat healthy food, and/or voicing our support for this program in the greater Tacoma community.

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Number First Name Last Name zip code TPSD Parent/Grandparent? Comments Title & Org*
1 Jennifer Boutell 98406 Yes Our kids learn from what we feed them. Please take action now to teach healthier lifelong eating habits.
2 Mary Letterman 98418 yes We should do the right thing for the health of our children. Healthy children learn better.
3 Tracy Marander 98405 yes Children learn by observing. When they are served nuggets, pizza, nachos, fruit pies, hamburgers five days a week, they will think it is okay to eat fast food for lunch and/or dinner every day. For many kids, the lunch is their best meal of the day.
Also, Olympia School District offers a vegetarian option every day, why can't we?
4 Cheryl Dusek 98406 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
5 Kassandra Bradberry 98406 Yes  
6 Adria Hembree 98403 Yes  
7 Mary Strong 98407 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
8 Courtney Love 98409 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future I have been a long time advocate in healthy school lunches ~ since 1991, when I started going to Lincoln HS. I can't imagine letting my daughter eat school lunch as it is now, we have higher standards in our home - I won't send her off to a learning institution to be fed substandard food.

With the recent news release linking ADHD and pesticides, I'm hoping that our local schools will implement a program that includes as much local and organic food as possible (CSA farms).
9 Heather Scott 98409 Yes  
10 Corina Nelson 98407 Yes  
11 Astrid Baas 98407 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
12 Joy Kiefer 98405 Yes Please pay attention to this issue. Uncrustables and corn dogs are not food! Our kids well learn better and behave better with improved nutrition.
13 Jesse Mabry 98404 Yes  
14 Shannon Krabbe 32137 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
15 Erlinda Estrada 95051 Yes (Grandparent)  
16 Katherine Felix 98375 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future We need to provide what we preach to the kids about healthy food choices. When we have a reading curriculum in Kindergarten that encourages healthy eating habits. We work with programs like Square Foot Nutrition with Washington State University to teach children about eating the rainbow of colors of fruits and vegetables. Yet, we have pizza Fridays every week. Tacoma Public Schools, please help us educate the children about healthy choices and then show them what true healthy choices look like. Not just processed foods where they do not even get fresh bread anymore.
17 Robert Kidder 98405 Yes My kids come home from school ravenous every day. My middle schooler in particular frequently either has no time to eat, or the food she wants they're already out of.
18 Tanya Kidder 98405 Yes  
19 Deb Llewellyn 98406 Yes As a mother of 4 children attending TPS, and practicing vegetarians, I am dismayed that over the 13 years that we have been attending, we have had so little choice in school lunches. My children prefer "home lunches" as we call them, I don't NEED school lunches, but I know some that do and wish that there was a better selection of fresh, creative meals...
20 Julie Miller 98403 Yes Lowell has tried to get salads in our school with no sucess. Maybe a larger group can provide more traction with Food Services.
21 Sandra Strong 98406 Yes  
22 Ashley Peterson-Cool 98465 Not now, but in the past
23 Terri Barnard 98407 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause
24 Rebekah Ellis 98404 Yes
25 Ramona Roderick 98445 Yes  
26 Jodi Franks 98371 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause Children need healthy food to learn and grow, and they need to develop healthy eating habits while they are young to develop into adults with healthy life-styles. The current lunch program is teaching children to eat a highly processed, high-carbohydrate diet, which is low in fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. I would like to see fresh fruit and vegetables (not canned or processed) make up at least 50% of each child's lunch. I think we would see a change in the overall health of our children, which would also have a measurable impact on student learning.
27 Linda Brieger 98406 Not now, but in the past
28 Karen Moltz 98407 Yes I am so tired of my child wanting to buy school lunch, but the options that day being fried or full of hormones. Yuck.
29 Lisa Gainey 98405 Yes  
30 Lisa Miller 98404 Yes  
31 Jessica Balsam 98405 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
32 Rachael Bouma 98406 Yes We welcome healthier school lunches in Tacoma!
33 Tabitha Black 98467 Parent with students in another school district  
34 Allison Levesque 98418 Yes  
35 Silvia Sauve' 98407 Yes  
36 Kelly Mulligan 98407 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
37 Kim Thompson 98467 Parent with students in another school district While I may not be in within the Tacoma School District, I am in a neighboring district. Thanks to all of you who signed this. And for those of you who are outside the Tacoma School District I urge you to review your own district's food policies and processes.
38 Rebecca Campbell 98418 Yes  
39 Joanna Rasmussen 98403 Yes  
40 Lisa Dean 98406 Yes  
41 Sarah Smith 98403    
42 Katy Levesque 98407 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
43 Corey Epperson 98406 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
44 Kimberly Bassett 98404 Yes  
45 Matthew Dean 98406 Yes  
46 Leslie Young 98418 Yes  
47 Darcy Anderson 98405 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
48 Winona Ormbrek 98405 Yes Kudos for bringing this to light- for years my children have been complaining about the food; warm milk, 1/2 frozen sandwiches, etc. and now that my oldest is in middle school, the situation has gotten worse since she only has enough time to get through th pizza (shortest) line and have time to eat! Hopefully we are able to do something about the time restaints also, I encourage parents to go sit in the lunchroom and witness how our children are rushed to eat- it's just unhealthy to try to gobble down food like that!
49 Jessica Luett 98409 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
50 Tamara Scribner 98045 Parent with students in another school district  
51 S. Canipe 32909 Parent with students in another school district  
52 Peggy Walton 98409 Not now, but in the past  
53 Shannan Nelson 98404 Yes  
54 Amy Schoppert 98407 Yes  
55 Danette Sandoval-Nelson 98404 Yes  
56 Aura Mae 98405 Not now, but in the past  
57 Kristine Anderson 98407 Not now, but in the past Yes  
58 Anita Latch 98403 Parent with students in another district  
59 Teri Wood 98404 Not now, but in the past  
60 Kathy Robinson 98403 Yes  
61 Tiffany Beard 98404 Yes  
62 Mary Boone 98403 Yes Nachos as a regular lunch entree? Seriously? That's bar food in my world. There's much room for improvement.
63 James Matteucci 98403 Yes Thanks for taking the lead and spreading the word
64 Amy Grinstead 98406 Private School Parent Yes  
65 Matthew Estrada 98405 Yes  
66 Jeffrey Grinstead 98406 Private School Parent  
67 Barry Mangan 98418 Yes Thank you. It's especially bad at the elementary schools. My 2 girls @ Grant get up @ 6:30am, in order to carpool with my middle schooler. We don't have time to give them a full breakfast @ home, and depend on reduced breakfast & lunch.
68 Erik Mikelson 98466 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
69 Leyda Greenwood 98335 Not now, but in the past  
70 Stacey Riley 98404 Yes
71 Jena Marks 98407 Yes
72 Jessica Jordan 98406 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
73 Kiel Maas 98446 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
74 Tracy Cornelius 98404 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
75 Leah Mills 98465 Yes my son will be starting kindergarten next year, and due to some off his health concerns I will be packing his lunch. So I know that he will get the right nutrition everyday.  
76 Bjorn Myhre 98408 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
77 Peter Stanley 98406 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause.  
78 Erin Longley 98407 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
79 Melissa Cotter 98406 Yes  
80 Richard Mills 98465 Yes  
81 Jodi Handley 98412 Yes I would like us to develop relationships with local farmers to provide whole foods to our children.
82 Sara Woodard 98408 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
83 Laurel Lawson 98407 Yes  
84 Polly Griffith 98448 Yes Our Children deserve the best lunch possible. This country should be ashamed of it's self for not wanting to make our school systems the best in the world.......PERIOD!
85 Kevin Glackin-Coley 98406 Yes  
86 Jamie Klevjer 98405 Yes  
87 Janet Stewart 98406 Yes  
88 Sara Sandefur 98405 Yes  
89 Joelle Wallstrom 98103 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause Healthier Lunches!!
90 Charlotte Lucey 98403 Yes Some days its just too hectic to get a lunch made in time for school and I'd love to have a healthier and better tasting option than most of whats offered. My son usually order the sandwich or salad if he doesn't bring lunch.
91 Nicole Flanery 98418 Yes  
92 Lisa Taylor-swanson 98422 Yes My son will not even eat school lunches because they taste terrible. But, what about all the kids who do eat school lunch (and breakfast) and they are being fed what I sense to be low-quality and of poor nutritional quality?? Health and well-being are the foundations of learning and education.
93 Elizabeth Walle 98407 Yes  
94 Kathleen Koch 98406 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
95 Erin Fournier 98418 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
96 Susan Lawler 98405 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
97 Selia Busey 98408 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future Does it make sense for the USDA to determine what is acceptable for school lunches? Shouldn't it be a health professionals panel? It is simply absurd that a whole wheat tuna sandwich with fresh fruit and plain milk aren't acceptable but processed, chemical laden chicken nuggets with ketchup containing high fructose corn syrup and canned fruit in corn syrup with chocolate milk containing more added sugar than a can of soda are okay.
98 Becki Waskey 98404 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
99 Larissa Bruner 98406 Yes I also would love it if schools included more healthy cooking/ gardening in the classroom. We went to private pre-K and Fridays were art and food day, it was so wonderful!!
100 Amy Gordon 98406 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
101 Ann Vanderpool-Kimura 98405 Yes
102 Carrie Boswell 98387 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
103 Candia Ladenburg 98422 Yes  
104 Kevin Gordon 98105 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
105 Keri Anderson 98405 Yes  
106 Tim Wrye 98406 Yes  
107 Kerri Wilson 98502 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
108 Mona Sullivan 98375 Private School Parent  
109 Lynn Hahn 98422 Not now, but in the past Nutrition is so important. Our children have obesity issues. We need to provide them with healthy food so they will be able to make good choices in their present and future meals. That will help with the insurance issues and so much more!
110 Mercedee Prom 98439 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause
111 Krystal Kyer 98418 Yes  
112 Carol McKenna-Reese 98406 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
113 Lori Lynn 98422 Yes My son is a Sophomore at Stadium High School and has been complaining about how awful the food is...not taste, but nutrional value. He spoke to his principal and started bringing his lunch ever day. Luckily we have that option. This needs to change!
114 James Reese 98406 Yes  
115 Robert Nunes 98466 Parent with students in another school district Thanks for your efforts.
116 Sarah Champion 98407 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
117 Desiree Turner 98407 Yes  
118 Venessa Wrye 98406 Yes  
119 Margaret Wiley 98374 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
120 Amy Teaford 98444 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future Yes
121 Kristina Loper 98418 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
122 Kim Bardwil 98403 Private School Parent  
123 Erin Larson 98023 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
124 Kelly Devlin 98406 yes  
125 Cheryl Towne 98407 Yes  
126 Kimberly McKenney 98405 Yes  
127 Grechen Steele 98405 Yes  
128 Melanie Lopez 98418    
129 Rachel Teodoro 98422 Yes  
130 Shannon Podgorski 98407 Yes  
131 Jennifer LeMay 98390 Parent with students in another district  
132 Michael Scott 98407 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
133 Deanna Neidlinger 98408 Yes  
134 Dawn Pierson 98407 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
135 Stephanie Kennedy Ayer 98403 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
136 Jaime Smith 98408 Yes  
137 Pat Fletcher 98406 Yes  
138 Ellen Tatlonghari 98406 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
139 Lauren Samball 98405 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause As a teacher, I would be more likely to purchase school lunch if there were healthier options.
140 Shar Chittenden 98405 Teacher and Parent  
141 James Montgomery 98321 Parent with students in another school district  
142 Liz Kaster 98406 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
143 Joanna Robinson 98403 Yes  
144 Chantal Hulet 98403 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
145 Renata McNeely 98405 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
146 Shay Williams 98405 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
147 Autumn Eveningsong 98512 Parent with students in another school district  
148 Maureen Lyon 98465 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
149 Carole Ann McQuade 98406 Yes  
150 Chiara Wood 98403 Yes  
151 Shari Larson 98407 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future    
152 Jennifer Rupp 98407 Yes  
153 Johanna Hopper 98406 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
154 Huguette Medovitch 98387 Yes  
155 Katrina Neff 98405 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
156 Julie Carlsen 98406 Yes  
157 Wendy Thomas 98407 Not now, but in the past  
158 Mary Bartley 98419 Yes  
159 Hope Alexander Willy 98405 Yes  
160 John Bartley 98148 Yes As a grandparent, I recognize how important good nutrition is to everyone.
161 Mike Willy 98405 Yes   Lakewood Fire
162 Anne Tumbusch 98407 Yes   Tacoma Public Schools
163 Amber Waggoner 98418 Yes  
164 Jamie Chase 98418 Yes Thank you for your leadership on this important issue. Owner,Credit Union Strategic Planning
165 Elise Johnson 98406 Yes  
166 Linda Danforth 98402 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause Yes  
167 Anneliese Hopper 98407 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
168 Shelby Mayor 98405 Yes  
169 Nancy Pawlicki 98422 Not now, but in the past Thank you for providing healthy meals for Tacoma kids! PTA Lifetime member
170 Sukhie Patel 98195 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
171 Rachel Jividen 98444 Not now, but in the past  
172 Tallie Menzie 98408 Yes I am completely in support of the change.  
173 Angela Mace 98418 Yes I have been teaching in Tacoma for 10 yrs.
My 1st degree is a BS in Nutrition. I believe that not only will students will be healthier and benefit so will the many staff that eat at my building. Look at Olympia's delicious nutritious locally grown organic salad bar.

This is a model I dream about for T.P.S.

 Elementary Health & Fitness Instructor, Tacoma Public Schools
174 Barbara Lear 98407 Yes  
175 Christina Barbon 98422 Yes Something absolutely needs to be done!  
176 Audrey Thunder 98405 Yes  
177 Rachael Brown-Kendall 98406 Yes  
178 Sharon Hatch 98404 Yes  
179 Susan Dobkins 98418 Yes
180 Mark Menzie 98408 Yes  
181 Erik Nicholson 98418 Yes  
182 Justin Smith 98408 Yes  
183 Nina King-Madlem 98406 Not now, but in the past  
184 Allison Saunders Miller 98405 Yes  
185 Sondra Chamberlain 98418 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
186 Tracy Stann 98404 Yes  
187 Timothy McNeely 98405 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future   OSPI
188 Andrea Moody 98408 Yes  
189 Avria Myklegard 98406 Yes  
190 Janee Saunders 95470 Yes  
191 Lisa Barbier 98404 Yes  
192 Katrina Smith 98406 Yes  
193 Phoebe Moore 98407 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
194 Susan Pfundt 98406 Yes  
195 Nancy Wright 98407 Yes  
196 Suzanne Williams 98422 Yes Kudos to those that are getting this movement going!! It is SO desperately needed. Please let me know how I can help - it will be the demise of our future generations if we don't get a handle on it now. Look forward to hearing, seeing and doing my part!!!
197 Christine Bair 98404 Yes  
198 Casandra Kamp 98466 Parent with students in another school district  
199 Scott Heinze 98406 Yes   Board Member, Communities in Schools of Tacoma
200 David Tison, PhD 98403 Yes  
201 Michele Joseph 98391 Yes   RN, BSN, CTTS
202 Patrick Joseph 98391 Yes  
203 Judy Perry 98371 Yes   VA
204 Leona Parker 98338 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause  
205 Matthew Heverly 98408 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
206 Elizabeth Rearick 98407 Yes  
207 Christina Hall 98466 Yes  
208 Patricia Tison 98403 Yes  
209 Eilene borne 98406 Yes  
210 Jennifer Adams 98405 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future    
211 Abigail Madlem 98406 Student   SOTA
212 Rose Gilsdorf 98406 Yes    
213 Tim Neuberger 98403 Yes Thank you for doing this. Sincerely, Tim Neuberger  
215 Kerry Geffen 98406 Yes  
216 George Rodkey 98406 Yes  
217 Josefa Lago 98407 Yes   Dr., University of Puget Sound
218 Megan Luce 98407 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
219 Julie Peterson 98418 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause   Sr. Director of Public Affairs, CHEF
220 Fred Wegener 98406 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause   Healing Places Counseling Center
221 Kristen Lumsden 98408 Yes  
222 Amy Lowin 98407 Yes    
223 Lisa March 98407 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future    
224 Cassandra Will 98407 Private School Parent    
225 Judith Y. Young 98199 Yes   Classroom Volunteer, Whitman Elementary
226 Kimberly Bowman 98406 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future    
227 Bailey May 98403 Yes    
228 Barbara Bourscheidt 98335 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause In order to build healthy, sustainable communities, it is imperative we feed our children well, support local agriculture, and teach children to grow, harvest and cook their own food.  
229 Erin Smith 98407 Yes  
230 Holly Bamford Hunt 98403 Private School Parent    
231 Thea Alongi 98407 Yes    
232 Stacey Green 98407 Yes    
233 Courtenay Chamberlin 98407 Yes    
234 Kathryn Dean 98403 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future    
235 Julie Mullins 98406 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future    
236 Jackie Kennedy 75428 Yes Please provide good healthy food to my Grandchild    
237 Jean Humphreys 98404 Yes    
238 Kristine Strange 98409 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future Thank you Jennifer for pushing this forward. We need better food in our schools and it's people like you that will lead us in the right direction. Thank you  
239 Amy Crawford 98408 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future I was so disgusted by what I saw was going on in the schools after watching Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution. I hope that we can change these eating habits around our whole country!  
240 Melissa Schussler-Paz 98407 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future  
241 Cynthia Miller 98405 Yes   The Red Hot
242 Vanessa Suresh 98406 Yes  
243 Joshua Peters 98406 Parent with students in another district    
244 Toshia Peters 98406 98406 Parent with students in another district    
245 Rebekah Mingus 98444 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future   Homemaker/fitness professional
246 Laelle Martin 98498 Not now, but I have a child who will attend in the future One of the most important things we can do to improve the short and long term physical and mental health of our children is to feed them healthy food. It is extremely important that the current "fast-food" style menus provided in the vast majority of public schools be replaced with healthy food items. Not only will the children feel better, but as studies have shown, the teachers and staff will notice dramatic improvements in behavior and learning potential. As a Doctor of Chiropractic with a pediatric wellness focus and a Mother who may elect to have my child(ren) attend Tacoma Public Schools in the future, I strongly encourage the district to begin implementing the healthy menu project as soon as possible. Dr. of Chiropractic
247 Zachary Bortle 98409 Yes Elementary school lunches in Tacoma are terrible. I dont know how many times my son has been served food past experation or opened a package to find food that is molded. Rediculous!  
248 Sylvia Cepriano 98405 Yes My children sometimes decide not to eat because they think the food is not healthy. I would think the sweets would be welcomed in the morning but they actually would like more healthier options. Metropolitan Devlopment Council
249 Marisa Mesz 98498 Not a parent, but supportive of the cause Keep fightin' :)  
250 Melanie Cantara 98406 No    
251 Michael Jewell 98403 No    
252 Jen Thomsen 98406 Yes    
253 Christine Cason 98335 No    
254 Pam Pepper 98403 Yes    
255 Timothy Pinckney 98403 Yes    
256 Adele Cabanlias 98516 No    
257 Wanda Hornbede 98405 Yes    
258 Nikae Ley 98409 No    
259 Robert Wallace 98405 Yes    
260 Lalena Hill 98408 Yes    
261 Christine Downing 98403 Yes    
262 Jeff Downing 98403 Yes    
263 Lana Rocke 98406 Yes    
264 Heather Kawamoto 98405 Yes    
265 Patrick McDermott 98406 Yes    
266 Lane Seaholm 98406 Yes<    
267 Peggy MacNeil 98408 No   Tacoma Public Schools Staff
268 Margret Lenox 98466 No   Tacoma Public Schools Staff
269 Diana Vazquez 98404 Yes    
270 Ameitra Smith 98499 Yes    
271   Nichols 98404 Yes    
272   Concepcion 98408 No   TPS Staff
273 Sara Bus 98404 Yes    
274 Ciara Riddick 98404 Yes    
275 Kenya Horne 98404 Yes    
276 Bart McMacken 98403 Yes    
277 James Patterson 98402 No    
278 Olivia Dudley 98404 No    
279 Natalie Dam 98404    
280   Rasthena 98404 No    
281 Bill Wetherby 98404 No    
282 John Puryear No    
283 Lynette Scheidt 98404      
284 Mari Hay 98444 No    
285 Mary Lynn 98407 Not now, but in the past    
286 Natalie LaBerge 98407 No    
287 Mark Hamburg 98406 Yes    
288 Carolyn Read 98407 No    
289 Danny Terpstra 98407 Yes    
290 Joe Lewis Jr 98422 Yes    
291 Gail Hecmanczuk 98407 No    
293 Melinda Splinter 98418 No    
294 Laurie Steele 98404 Yes    
295 Ver Jasmin 98404 No    
296 May Ye 98404 Yes    
297 Isakai Lawson 98404 Yes    
298 Douglas Jorgenson 98404 No    
299 Jaster Poe 98404 Yes    
300 Domo Vega 98404 No    
301 Angel Bailey 98404 Yes    

*for identification purposes only