ADAMS TWP — In what may have been his first foray into the democratic process, Charlie Stoops spoke eloquently about his opposition to the Mars School Board’s decision to prohibit outside snacks at all Mars schools.

Charlie, his brother, Miles, and about 10 other young students and their parents attended Tuesday night’s school board meeting to present the board with a petition on the matter.

The board in September voted to prohibit snacks of any kind from classroom birthday parties, and limited the food allowed at holiday parties to that prepared by the cafeteria. No food from home is permitted.

The policy was created “to ensure that foods comply with the district’s procedural guidelines for allergy management and established nutrition guidelines” according to the district’s student wellness policy.

As the students sat quietly in the front seats at the meeting, school board President Dayle Ferguson called on Charlie to address the board.

“May I stand over there by the American flag?” Charlie asked.

When his request was granted, Charlie read from a handwritten statement regarding the students’ opposition to the new snack policies. Luke Baumgartel, who helped with the petition, and Charlie’s brother, Miles, also addressed the board with their concerns.

“We have assembled a 190- to 200-signature petition to get the approved snack list back and for a compromise, the teacher would check with the nurse to make sure the student asked the nurse if he could bring the snack in,” Charlie told the board.

Miles especially opposes the prohibition of snacks of any kind from classroom birthday parties.

“Be more strict about it, but don’t get rid of it as a whole,” Miles said.

Ferguson accepted the petition from Charlie after his presentation.

“We commend you for taking time away from your homework to come here this evening,” she told the group.

After the meeting, Ferguson and Superintendent Wesley Shipley said the new policies were the result of much consideration by a large committee.

“The newly adopted policies reflect federal and state law, which doesn’t allow us to be as flexible as before,” Ferguson said.