Following multiple unsavory food delivery incidents, Lake Oswego High School has implemented a new food delivery policy for this year. “No food is to be delivered by someone that is not related to the students or in their emergency contact from when the school day starts until the school day ends,” explained LOHS Principal Kristen Colyer.

The policy resulted from school safety concerns, as delivery drivers were being let into the building by students, negating the school’s security measures. Colyer continued, “Our safety and security program is really designed for people to check in with our Raptor system” at the front desk. The system typically scans the person and their background before they are let into the building. However, food delivery drivers who entered the building without first being checked through Raptor could potentially pose a security risk since their reliability remains uncertain.

Furthermore, multiple times last year, Colyer witnessed drivers “leave the food, take a picture to send to the student, pick up the food and leave.” In other words, students would pay for food and not receive it — all while being told that they should have. The combination of this issue with the factor of safety led to food deliveries being prohibited this year.

Nevertheless, although food deliveries, such as UberEats and Doordash, will not be allowed during school hours, they will still be permitted after school. Additionally, during school hours, parents and other people on students’ emergency contact forms will also be able to drop off food or any other items in the front office. They will first check in at the front window, and, after it has been verified that they are indeed on the student’s contact list, receptionist Barbara Parrish will bring the food into the office and place it on the shelves inside the school.

This year, as food deliveries have been disallowed, “breakfast, lunch and snack sales have increased compared to this time last year,” said LOSD Director of Nutrition Services Cristobal Castro. Snack item sales have increased the most, with LOHS students purchasing, on average, about 63 more snack items daily. Meal sales have also seen modest growth, with breakfast sales increasing by an average of 14 per day and lunch sales increasing by about 12 per day.

Overall, Colyer believes that the policy has been “100% effective.” Students are complying with the policy, and food deliveries are no longer a significant issue.