Farmington High School students organized a boycott of the school lunch program Monday to push back against Chartwells, the company that serves food students say is consistently unacceptable.
Students announced plans for the boycott last week, citing moldy food and uncooked lunches, along with high prices and small portions.
"We are going to boycott the Chartwells company serving food in FHS," organizers wrote on the "Chartwells Boycott" Facebook page last week. "One day (a week, if possible) we won't buy from them until they stop serving us food that tastes bad and is obviously unhealthy and unsanitary."
Chartwells has been serving food at Farmington High School for three years and students said they hoped to send a message to the company and administrators alike.
"I think the first day was a success because I think most people were avoiding buying lunch," said Farmington High School sophomore Jake Lafrance.
Lafrance stopped buying the school lunches a while ago but said that option doesn't exist for some other students.
"I feel like if they can't bring there lunch, then they should be provided with quality food," Lafrance explained.
Boycott organizers said administrators confiscated the extra food they brought to share with supporters, calling it a "health problem," according to the Facebook page.
Meanwhile, parents seem to support of the boycott, which may be a timely lesson for everyone.
"Right now everyone's voting. You can make a difference. You have a voice," said Lafrance's mother, Janis.
The organizers of the boycott met with administrators and Chartwells representatives last week but said the promises and policy changes made to date have not been significant.
They, along with hundreds of peers who signed up to join the boycott, plan to continue boycotting through the end of the week.
"We need to stop them before it's too late, because it's not like there's any other choice for us anyways," the boycott organizers wrote on Facebook.
Farmington High School Principal Bill Silva said Monday's boycott was respectful and not disruptive. He said he plans to meet with students again "to get a broad-based understanding of their concerns."
"Along with the high school administration, Chartwells is committed to addressing these concerns and has been very responsive to student input and questions," Silva said.
Farmington Supt. Kathleen Greider said last week that she and other school officials "deeply respect our students' opinions and honor the dignity of every student that attends the Farmington Schools."
