School ‘kantinas’ back in operation

Small canteens in public school campuses are now back after the Public School System ordered them to resume operation.

This was disclosed Friday by PSS food and nutrition assistance coordinator Hee Jae Lee, who said the decision was made after the Food and Nutrition Office completed the fact-finding and monitoring of “kantinas” upon the advice from the commissioner’s office.

In latter part of 2008, Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan suspended the canteens’ operation due to “irregularities” of some vendors and “safety issues” for students.

It was earlier found out that some vendors were selling “unhealthy” foods to students while others sold food during lunch hours when kids are about to receive their school meals from the cafeteria.

“School canteens are back in operation…depending on the principals,” she told Saipan Tribune yesterday, adding that because of the “corrective” measures and proper guidelines formulated by the system some schools opted not to run it because of the “list” of requirements to be met.

Among these requirements, Lee said, was the Bureau of Environmental Health’s guidelines on food temperatures.

“The monitoring is to make sure that the foods being sold are safe…and based on our nutritionist’s guidelines,” she said.

Describing the early “findings” as minor issues, Lee is confident schools that decide to continue their agreement with kantinas will comply with the requirements.

As of Friday, she said about seven to eight schools have decided to open their kantinas. Among these schools are Marianas High School, Hopwood Junior High, and Saipan Southern High.

Principals in both primary and secondary levels were earlier saddened by the temporary closure of the school kantinas, citing the significant help it brings to their needs.

Saipan Tribune learned that a certain percentage—10 percent to 20 percent—of the net sales is remitted to the school that hosts the kantina. The funds, which approximately range from $200 to $400 monthly, are used by schools to buy immediate needs such as toiletries, supplies, fuel, and used for immediate repairs.

Food vendors and the schools sign memorandums of agreement for the kantinas.

At Kagman Elementary School, Saipan Tribune learned that Lucky Restaurant is remitting about $400 monthly to the school as part of its MOA. The company has been doing “business” with the school since 2000.

Friday, Lee lauded the commissioner’s move in putting control and close monitoring on the school food operations.

Education Board vice chair Herman T. Guerrero, chairman of the fiscal and personnel affairs committee, suggested that school kantinas may consider selling “small supplies” for students and teachers.

“Instead of the non-nutritious junk foods, why not sell supplies to the kids?” he asked.

He believes that if “irregularities” will continue in the operation of kantinas, this will conflict with PSS’ goal of promoting good health.

“If we will allow it…it will contradict what PSS wants to convey. All our efforts in incorporating P.E. into our curriculum will go to waste because there’s no balance,” he said.