Council will hold a joint hearing on school lunches, while Phillips's first meals resolution waits

City Council approved a hearing on school lunches Thursday. Resolution 260930, from 9th District Councilmember Anthony Phillips, authorizes the Committees on Children and Youth and Education to hold a joint hearing on the School District of Philadelphia's meal policies. Our record of the Oct. 29 session shows it as adopted.

The district offers free meals, but many students skip them, Chalkbeat reported in February. A hearing puts district officials on the record about why.

What the hearing will cover

According to the resolution's title, the committees will examine:

• meal quality and nutrition;
• food preparation and procurement, meaning how meals are made and bought;
• kitchen infrastructure;
• student participation;
• the school dining experience.

Many district schools lack full kitchens and serve meals made elsewhere and reheated, Chalkbeat reported. Phillips's earlier resolution cited public reporting that some meals were "prepared and packaged in Brooklyn, New York" before being shipped here (text). Last November, councilmembers questioned district officials about food quality at another hearing, the Inquirer reported.

What our records add

• Two resolutions, two outcomes. Phillips introduced Resolution 260872 on Oct. 15. It asks the district itself to review its meals and publish an improvement plan. It was placed on the final passage calendar that day and listed on Thursday's agenda, but it was not adopted. Its status is still "In Council – Final Passage," 15 days after it was introduced. Our story on it. The new resolution, 260930, instead has Council examine the question itself through a hearing.
• Sponsors. 260930 lists seven: Phillips, Jim Harrity, Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Kendra Brooks, Mark Squilla, Nicolas O'Rourke and Rue Landau. The earlier resolution had eight; Cindy Bass is on 260872 but not on 260930 in our record.
• Schools on Council's mind. The same day, members rallied outside district headquarters against the planned closure of 17 schools, and Mayor Cherelle L. Parker let five school rezoning bills become law without her signature. Our story. The Education Committee is chaired by Isaiah Thomas, who told the rally the mayor should "step off the sideline," Chalkbeat reported.
• Other hearings authorized Thursday. Council also approved hearings on the police union contract proposal (260932), the H.O.M.E. housing plan (260934) and how courts, the sheriff, the district attorney and police protect domestic violence victims (260937).

What's next

Adopting the resolution authorizes the hearing; it does not set a date. The committees' chairs schedule it, and it will appear on our meetings calendar once posted. Resolution 260872 could still come up at the Nov. 12 session.