Putting Water on School Menus

Water, water everywhere -- except in California Schools?

There's apparently a drought on California school campuses.

San Francisco state Sen. Mark Leno has proposed free water on school menus, noting may districts don't offer water with meals despite a statewide focus on healthy eating in recent years.

Senate Bill 1413, which has passed the Assembly and Senate and is awaiting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's signature, calls for fresh water in school eating areas by next July. It's expected to gain the governor's approval, as he sponsored the bill.

But the bill doesn't provide funding and most districts say they can't afford it.

Advocates tell the Los Angeles Times the solution can be inexpensive. In small schools, for example, water pitchers and cups could be placed on lunch tables.

Montclair Elementary School in Oakland has what it calls a "hydration system," a faucet that students use to fill their own bottles with drinking water.

Schwarzenegger has until Sept. 30 to sign the bill.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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