Does a peanut free table have to be peanut free even when the PA child is not there?

That fight is worth fighting. It is a peanut free table period. If people - any people- ever eat peanuts on it it defeats the purpose. Ask the PTA if they can read. The school has designated the table as such and the PTA needs to respect that. I would approach the PTA President first. I would be nice, yet firm and unmoving on this. Ask if she would expect anything less for her own children. Arm yourself with a few articles you can give her so that she can understand the issue. Regardless of the response you get, I would go to the principal and ask him or her to clarify the rule for use of that table. Maybe post the rules right on the table. Good luck.

There's a post floating around here somewhere about peanut protein lasting on a surface for 6 months. So, I'd say it's worth looking into. If the PTA people can't 'remember' to use a different table, could your dd get a "new" peanut-free table?

No, it isn`t practical to get a new peanut free table, as 700 kids would have to be taught that it is a different table that is peanut free. It took a lot of time and repetition to teach these kids not to eat Reese Cups at this one table, and teaching 700 that it is now a different table might confuse some of them---some don`t even speak English. Am I making it more difficult than it is? If we move it to a different table, some of the kids will take their peanuts to the new peanut free table which allowed peanuts yesterday. Not all kids are smart.

The PTA`s answer was that they use a thick tablecloth (paper) which I watched them pick up not at all carefully and crumbs went flying everywhere. I already spoke to the head of the PTA. I am so tired of these battles---just when you have educated everyone you think you need to educate, there is someone new involved in some roundabout way.

It seems unlikely to me that the peanut free table is actually the same physical table all the time. Every school cafeteria I've ever been in has the same fold up tables with stools or benches along the sides. At some point, these tables are folded up and put against a wall and the floor is washed or the room is used for some other function. The same table may not be put back in the same spot. Also, I would think that at the end of each day, the tables are cleaned (which may not help with a PTA meeting at night and lunch the next day.) So anyway, if you decide to take on this battle, I'd first make sure that the peanut-free table is actually ONE table.

The PTA meeting is from 8:30 in the morning until 9:45. At 9:50 the kids (my daughter too) come in and eat snack, then the kids are back at 12:00 to eat lunch. As huge as these tables are and with 30 or 40 of them, I can`t imagine that they are folded up ever, but I will check. Each table seats about 30 or 40 kids; they are very big. I`ve seen them clean the floor and they just mop under the tables rather than folding them up. It would probably take an hour of someone`s time and several large men to get these tables folded, but definitely I will check. Certainly if it is a different table which is peanut free each day, I don`t need to worry about the PTA, I just can`t imagine such large tables getting folded up.

I would talk to the PTA president first. IF she is not willing to budge on moving the "snack" table then I would get the principal involved. Definitely!!

I can't believe how grown-ups react to such a small request. [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/mad.gif[/img] I would try to explain to them about your child's peanut allergy. (if you haven't already). Maybe you could speak at a meeting about Peanut allergies and the safety precautions that as a parent that you go through every day.

Oh, just thinking maybe the cafeteria can leave a sign on the table stating no snack allowed on this table because of allergies. This is a thought too, or have your teacher come to the meeting for a few minutes and stress to the PTA that no snacks are allowed at this table.

Just a few thoughts to think about.

best wishes,

Renee [img]http://uumor.pair.com/nutalle2/peanutallergy/wink.gif[/img]

Maybe the peanut-free table can be marked (painted or plaque). Then, others would know not to use it, and you would be assured that it is the same table each day. Also, since the PTA sounds incredibly inflexible (which is very sad), I would just ask the principal to make sure that this simple and very important rule is followed.
Good Luck,
Andrea

I`m just wondering if the principal will actually take my side on this one. The PTA has a lot of clout, they do all kinds of service for the school, raise about $200,000 a year, etc,etc. I`m just wondering whether due to the politics involved whether the principal will take my side on this. By the way, although the table itself is not marked, there is a HUGE sign above it saying no peanuts and with a picture of a peanut and a line through it, for the kids who are too young to read. The PTA had to have seen the sign, they just chose to ignore it.

Do you have a 504 plan? If you don't I would suggest one for next year. If you do have one and the peanut free table is part of it then I would think that by law the principal has to be on your side.

Good Luck!
Rebekah

Yes we have a 504 plan and yes it includes a peanut free table. The question is does the definition of a peanut free table mean peanut free when the PA child is there or peanut free at all times? That is my question. To me it means at all times, to the PTA it means when my daughter is sitting there. I am trying to find out how other schools with a peanut free table have answered that question.

My six year old daughter also reacts to skin contact with peanuts. Her 504 plan requires the cafeteria staff to wash her table with cleanser and paper towels immediately before her scheduled lunch period. This eliminates the need to keep the table peanut free at all times. I have also taught her to use her lunch box as a tray or to spread a napkin on the table so that she and her food have no contact with the table. She uses a separate napkin to wipe her hands and face.

The PTA meeting goes until recess. They were just starting to clean up as the kids were filing in. It is unlikely that 30 kids are going to just stand there and wait while the cafeteria staff does a thorough cleaning of the table. If there were time in between the end of the PTA meeting and the beginning of recess when the kids come in, it would be different, but there isn`t any time at all. In fact one of the kids picked up a piece of peanut candy which was sitting on the table, stood over the table (which was supposed to be peanut free), and ate it.

You could probably call the department of education and find out the answer to your question of legality. Aren't they the department that advises us on 504 plans? If the principal is not cooperative, maybe you can says "well the dept of ed. says...". I would think it would be pretty cut and dry, though, since it's pretty reasonable for the PTO to move to another table as opposed to moving the peanut free table. Especially if they only have the stupid meeting once a month. Did they give you a reason why they choose that table or are they just being difficult?

I think that`s a good idea. I have already called the Office of Civil Rights at the Dept. of Ed. in the past about a different problem. I think I`ll call them. By the way, the PTA was just being difficult---I think that since they raise so much money for the school, they think no one can tell them what to do. Thanks, everyone, for your input.

I just got off the phone with my daughter`s allergist. He agreed with me that the peanut free table should be peanut free at all times and he is going to write a letter. I`ll let you all know what happens.

We faced this very issue almost 2 years ago & I ended up agreeing to try it the school's way -- it was peanut free only when my daughter was at the table. I also took their suggestion about placemats, although I prefer to send in cloth ones every day that I just throw in the laundry (we have 6 placemats total). I wasn't happy about going along w/ their approach, but I figured I couldn't fight every single battle & there were other ones (like not eating peanut snacks in the classroom) that I wanted to push on more. So far, it has not ever been a problem.

Anne

Did they ever have peanuts on the table as your child was coming in to eat? That is what worries me most about this---not that my daughter would take the peanuts, but how well are they going to clean the table while the peanuts are being cleared away and the kids are standing there waiting to sit down. In this case, one of the other kids actually took a piece of peanut candy and stood over the table eating it. I`m just not sure how much a placemat protects my daughter in case there are peanut crumbs on the table. If the table were used for peanuts half an hour before, and I was sure the table was cleaned adequately before my daughter came in and put down a place mat maybe I would feel differently. With your child, is there such a short time interval between the peanuts on the table and your child arriving?

My son's peanut free table is always the same table. It is put up when he comes into the cafeteria and folded back up when he leaves. They have marked it with gray duct tape.
Is there any guarantee that the table has not been used after school and for other things during school hours? No.
That is why the custodian is supposed to wash it down before my son comes in to eat.
Does the custodian do it every day? Who knows. Does he wash it properly? Who knows.They say he does but I don't think so.
Short of being there all day, there is no way to know.
There is always a risk and all these 504 safeguards only reduce the risk. In my experience, even with the 504, there is inconsistency and the bottom line is that my son has to protect himself. What some of my friends do is have their children eat on paper towels. You can buy paper placemats and perhaps use those. I have been fighting this battle for years and people are going to go just so far to keep your kid safe. It is not that most of them aren't well intentioned but sometimes things just break down. I am not suggesting that you give up making them comply...what I am saying is that you need to figure out back ups so that if things are done exactly right, he is still safe.
Ellen

I'm certainly coming into this discussion late, but this PTA is making my blood boil!!! Asolutely your daughter's table should be peanut free at all times, as your allergist has stated. It is a disgrace that the PTA is being so small minded and childish. It's terrible that you are put into the position of seeming like the "difficult" person, when they are showing no regard for your daughter's safety. I am assuming that they don't get the p.a. thing at all. It seems to me that a little education is needed. If there is any way this can be done in a sweet, friendly way - all the better. Perhaps the principal, nurse, resource specialist or somebody at the school whom you trust and respect (and would not seem threatening to the other person) could sit down with you and the PTA president to work this out. I would suggest that you even say something like "this may seem quite bizarre and over the top to you, but...." and explain about the seriousness of pa. Hopefully they will understand about peanut crumbs getting on the table. I think you should modify your daughter's 504 plan to include the fact that the table is to be peanut free at all times. I agree with another poster who said that you never can be 100% sure what is going on at all times. But, this situation seems like an obvious egregious breach of your daughter's safety. In my mind there is no question that the school is not protecting your daughter's right to learn in a safe environment by allowing the PTA to serve peanut products at this table.

Please respond with the lastest in this saga. I am very curious. Good luck! Miriam

I had a peanut free table in my school and it was not necessary for it to be peanut-free while I was not present, however, it was necessary for it to be cleaned thoroughly before I was there. It was part of my 504 plan..

Wow I never had any of this growing up with my PA so kudos to you! I'd bring little hand wipes in elementary school and clean off my seat and spot at the table and I made it through!