Before Policy Is Written in Stone, Let’s Think

Wait just a minute. Let’s stop and think! Does this policy make sense?
In this case, kudos goes to Daniel Money, longtime Middle Township Board of Education member.
His was a prime example of exactly what more policy makers, from school boards to the state Legislature to the U.S. Capitol, ought to do as regulations are introduced that seem innocuous at the outset.
During its Feb. 19 meeting, Middle Township Board of Education was considering, among other items, its Transportation Committee’s recommendation to prohibit all eating and drinking on school buses.
It seemed like a very good policy. Who could object? That was until Money slammed the brakes, and flicked the red flashing overhead light.
“I have a question about rules of the bus, no eating or drinking on the bus,” Money began.
It is the policy of every bus, Walter Landgraf, board administrator replied.
When a basketball team goes up and finishes a challenging game, there will be no water allow on the bus? Money questioned.
Suppose a child didn’t have breakfast, and their parent sends them on the bus with a doughnut or a cookie so they don’t go to school hungry, he continued.
“What is the pressing issue?” he asked.
“Choking” was the answer. There is a danger of a child chocking on the doughnut or cookie.
“There has to be some middle ground here,” Money offered.
“Who came up with choking?” asked George DeLollis.
“Is this a policy we approve as a board?” Money continued.
“Maybe we could kick it back to committee to further delineate after athletic events,” said Vice President Dennis Roberts.
Landgraf said the matter had received “a lot of heated discussion, spirited discussion” at the committee level.
He added there was not only the health issue of possible choking on a bus, but the possibility that food and beverage “could be thrown around the bus.”
Last, he noted, “It could be a safety issue” the possibility of a child being injured.
Then, too, there is the aspect of bus cleanliness.
“This came up after working with the drivers and aides,” Landgraf said.
The issue, added Andre Hodges, was the matter of permission.
“Bus drivers can’t give permission to a child,” he said.
Money then drew upon a notion long lost among policy makers: Ask those most affected.
He pointed to a very active Parent Teacher Association. Why not seek input from those parents who would be in the direct line of fire, as it were.
“See what would be appropriate for their kids. It would be good to have parental input,” he added.
Money said he would also like to “hear from the coaches.”
As Roberts thought more about the matter, he thought of distant basketball games when a stop would be made for refreshments at a convenience store, or if the marching band were returning from a Scranton, Pa. competition.
“I don’t know if we have a solid policy in this regard,” he added.
Some drivers, it seems, allow nibbling and sipping, others forbid it, Landgraf said.
“We don’t know,” Money said.
“What we’ve been doing now, we’ve been doing for years,” said Money.
“It’s a mess,” added Roberts.
Speaking of which, drivers must clean up whatever mess their young riders leave behind.
“Students have to be factored into the equation,” said DeLollis.
Absent a food policy, drivers “do not have the right to tell students” they can or cannot eat, added Anthony Anzelone.
Thus, like a half-eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich which must be finished sometime later, the board decided to wait at least another month before forming a policy.
Without Money’s first question, the matter would have slid through unnoticed and, likely, not enforced.
Brings to mind the creation of an atomic fly swatter to eradicate nuisance bugs. All that was previously used was a simple screen fly swatter. Then, someone said there was a larger problem that needed a bigger, heavier solution.
Finally, someone devised an atomic fly swatter that could rid thousands of flies at a time, but it was big and expensive, and left nasty spent fuel.
What is worse flies or atomic waste? Overall, is the solution worse than the problem?
We will anxiously await the decision of the board about, let us call it “on-board dining.”
Apply that same policy-making logic to any pending law or rule. Keep alive the memory of Cape May’s late Steve Peckiconis at such times as these: If you’re not going to enforce the rules, don’t make them in the first place.
Mr. Money, Steve is smiling down at you right now.