The West Salem School Board will review its nutrition policy after a group has come forward asking for changes.

Upset over stricter rules on candy in schools, third-graders Avery Strangstalien, Sidney Averbeck and Abby Friell have requested the board loosen its policy on sweets throughout the district.

“We don’t think it’s fair that it got taken away,” Strangstalien said. “Candy isn’t all that bad.”

In September 2006, the school board adopted a new wellness policy to provide healthier food choices and promote physical activity. The policy, which was strongly encouraged by the state, was aimed at countering obesity and chronic diseases.

In addition to replacing “junk food” in vending machines with healthier food and drinks, the policy stated “no candy or carbonated beverages will be used as reward, teaching tools or sold” to students throughout the school day.

The policy also states birthday treats and holiday parties with candy are not prohibited.

However, Strangstalien, who was voted class vice president, said the new policy is too restrictive. She said teachers in the past had rewarded good study behavior with candy and it was a good incentive.

“Some people think it would make us all energetic and hyper, but we don’t think so,” she said. “I think it made us work harder.”

Friell agreed, saying the reward method has been a proven success with animals.

“When you want a dog to do a trick and it does it, you give it a reward,” Friell said. “And the dog will keep doing the tricks because it wants the treat.

“And that’s the same thing here, although we’re not dogs and we’re not eating dog treats,” Friell added.

The trio presented their case before the school board last week, citing specific reasons why candy is OK to have in school and how they would like the policy to change.

Some proposed changes include children being able to provide candy and setting a time once a week where candy could be eaten.

And no gum would be allowed — because it’s not really considered a candy and it could get stuck in someone’s hair.

“We worked really hard on this and we had to do a lot of research,” Strangstalien said.

The policy was to go before the school board’s policy committee for discussion Wednesday, June 6 (after the Coulee News deadline).

At the meeting, the students will present a short video that demonstrates the negative aspects that can occur with a candy-free school.

School board member Ann Bina said she hopes to learn more at the meeting. While she said she’s not sure if any changes to the nutrition policy will be recommended, she did note sometimes policies need to be clarified.

“It all depends on how (school officials) are interpreting it,” Bina said. “Sometimes what we find is someone takes a policy and reads it and remembers it differently.”

Bina said she was impressed with the students going through the proper procedures for coming before the school board, which included a letter to Superintendent Nancy Burns requesting to be placed on the agenda.

“I give them credit for coming before the school board,” Bina said.

The students’ teacher, David Langer, also said the girls’ ambition was noteworthy, especially considering their presentation was done completely on their own. Langer said Strangstalien was simply following up on a campaign promise to her classmates to look into the candy situation.

“That’s what’s so great about this,” he said. “I can plead innocent. They went off on their own and did this.”