LANSING — Two Boy Scouts testified in front of Michigan lawmakers Thursday asking them to allow the return of bake sales as fundraisers in the state’s schools. William Cothron, 11, and Kevin Kapanowski, 12, are both eighth grade students at Canton Charter Academy and members of Boy Scout Troop 743.
In addition to giving lawmakers a rundown of how the bartering system during school lunch hour works — some students trade the unhealthy items in their lunch boxes to other students, in case you were wondering — the duo sat before lawmakers on Thursday and said they’d like their “Wacky Wednesdays” back.
William explained once a month eighth graders would sell Propel, Gatorade and doughnuts for a dollar each at their school. The funds would help finance the eighth grade trip to Chicago and they always sold out.
“It helped us learn too because when we go on field trips we learn stuff,” William said.
However, Wacky Wednesdays had to stop this school year with the implementation of federal Smart Snacks In School standards that ban most bake sale items. Senate Bill 139, sponsored by State Sen. Patrick Colbeck, R-Canton, would make Michigan exempt from the standards when it comes to bake sales.
The bill, which passed the Senate 36-1, would allow the sale of bake sale items that don’t meet federal nutrition standards. As currently written, the bill would allow schools to have three, and possibly more, bake sales in a week.