Puerto Rican menus in schools

[Ecuajey]

Education chief to extend Puerto Rican menus in schools

Sunday, June 23rd, 2002.

PONCE (AP) - Following the students approval of Puerto Rican menus in public school lunchrooms, Education Secretary Cesar Rey announced during the weekend that he would extend these menus to the 10 school regions of the island.

"For me, the goal is to have the island's 1,538 schools to benefit from the Puerto Rican agriculture. That would be something tremendous for an island where people thought that local agriculture was dead," said Rey in a radio interview.

Contrary to former Education Secretary Victor Fajardo, Rey concentrated his efforts in integrating native dishes such as rice, beans, and chicken to school lunchroom's menus.

He also eliminated menus that included tacos and burritos.

"No one can tell me that Puerto Ricans don't love rice and beans with steak," said Rey.

The Education chief said the menus have had widespread acceptance among public school students, and said this would also benefit the local agriculture. He added that the students' attendance in lunchrooms has gone up from 3% to 5% since the new menus were implemented.

Rey also said the widespread acceptance would allow the department to seek an additional $30 million in federal funds for that program, which would mean more jobs and better nutrition for students.