Ditch the DoorDash. Why Modesto students aren’t allowed to order food deliveries to school
A couple of Modesto high schools posted a curious message on social media last week. It stood apart from posts about school events and student accomplishments.
“Stop food deliveries,” one post read in capital letters.
Two students told The Bee they see friends ordering food all the time, for fun, and don’t foresee it stopping.
But Modesto City Schools does not accept deliveries for students from apps like DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats and Postmates, read Instagram and Facebook captions from Beyer and Enochs high schools.
Why?
District spokeswoman Krista Noonan said by email that food deliveries are prohibited for students for two primary reasons: campus security and lack of necessity.
“Our campuses are considered ‘closed campuses,’ which means the perimeters are secure, all visitors are required to register in the school front office, and they must be cleared through our secure online visitor management system before gaining access to the campus,” Noonan wrote.
If the district allowed students to order food deliveries, she wrote, other prohibited items could also be dropped off. That could risk safety and security, she said.
In addition, the district provides free breakfasts and lunches daily on all campuses. “There is no need for food to be delivered,” Noonan wrote.
“Our Nutrition Services Department does a wonderful job providing healthy and delicious meal options for our students,” she added.
District staff may still order food delivered. Noonan said contrasting students to staff in this case is not an accurate comparison.
“Our staff are authorized representatives of Modesto City Schools, and they have gone through and passed the necessary security clearances in order to be employed by MCS,” she wrote. “Additionally, our staff have in-depth knowledge of the campus security protocols to understand what is allowable and what is not.”
An Enochs student said via text that she’s seen peers order food from Taco Bell, McDonald’s and other close places throughout the school year. Another Enochs student said their friends enjoy ordering from Panda Express and Chipotle and pick up their deliveries from the school gate.
Some comments on the social media posts complained that students wait in long lines that take up too much of their lunch period and leave them wolfing down their food. But at least a few commenters clearly made a connection with the rule and a scene from a classic 1982 teen movie.
In “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” Sean Penn’s character, Jeff Spicoli, has a pizza delivered to his U.S. history class. Teacher Mr. Hand plays the “hope you brought enough for everyone” card, intercepts the pie and invites students up for a slice as the dispirited Spicoli looks on.
This story was originally published February 28, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
