STATEWIDE — Gov. Ralph Northam formed a task force on Thursday, June 17 in order to ensure that school meals and academic calendars are more culturally inclusive in Virginia’s public school systems.
The task force’s two subcommittees will make recommendations on providing more diverse food options to students with different religious and ethnic backgrounds.
It will also identify the best practices for implementing a diverse list of religious and cultural holidays into school calendars. This includes holidays such as Eid al-Fitr, Ash Wednesday, Lunar New Year, Yom Kippur and Diwali.
“When our school environments reflect the history, values, cultures, and traditions of the communities they serve, our students are better positioned to learn and thrive,” Gov. Northam said in a statement.
The Task Force on Culturally Inclusive School Meals and Calendars began meeting in late May and will meet biweekly throughout June and July. They will present their recommendations to the Governor’s Children’s Cabinet in August.
