A New Jersey schools superintendent apologized to parents for a recent high school lunch menu that served fried chicken to celebrate Black History Month.
The Feb. 16 lunch menu at Hopewell Valley Central High School in Mercer County also listed corn bread, sweet potato casserole, sauteed spinach, mac & cheese and peach and apple crisps.
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It’s not clear who complained about the menu.
“The decision to include these items without any context or explanation, reinforces racial stereotypes and is not consistent with our district mission and efforts to improve cultural competency among our students and staff,” Superintendent Thomas A. Smith wrote in a message to the high school community.
Smith wrote that district’s food service vendor, Pomptonian, had apologized to the district and they are meeting with the company “to reinforce our district values.”
Smith could not be reached for comment Monday. Schools were closed.
Pomptonian Vice President Cathy Penna said one of their directors – based at the school – worked closely with the high school on creating a menu event to celebrate Black History Month.
“The suggestion was to do something to celebrate soul food,” Penna said in an email. The company tries to offer a diverse menu respecting different cultures, she wrote.
“Pomptonian deeply regrets that, out of context, this menu may have been perceived by individuals as insensitive or in poor taste,” Penna said. “The director at this location never intended to do anything that would offend anyone and deeply regrets the decision and understands that it could have been taken out of context.”
The family-owned company, based in Fairfield and in business over 50 years, says they provide meals to more than 350 schools across the state.
The high school has about 1,200 students, of which 82 percent are white, 10 percent Asian, 3.8 percent black and 3.6 percent Hispanic, records show.
Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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