DATE: Friday, October 24, 1997              TAG: 9710240828

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Education 

                                            LENGTH:   37 lines

EYES & EARS

SUFFOLK

CALM IN THE STORM: Florence Bowser Elementary School, scheduled to be closed this year, was kept open to house kindergarten students and help relieve crowding at nearby elementary schools. Schools Superintendent Joyce H. Trump told a Chamber of Commerce breakfast crowd Wednesday that, for a real treat, they should stop by and see what a school housing 270 5-year-olds is like.

Trump, laughing, unsuccessfully tried to point out Bowser's principal, Lybi Gittens, in the audience.

``Where's the principal?'' Trump asked, scanning the tables. ``She's being very quiet. It's peaceful here.''

- Matthew Bowers

CHESAPEAKE

FEWER FRIES: The Food Services Office made a bold move in the name of healthier lunches this year: It reduced the number of times french fries are served to middle schoolers from every day to three times a week.

There is a bit of nervousness attached to the move - as any parent faced with angry 11- to 14-year-olds might understand - which is why the frequency of fries wasn't reduced even more. Reductions for high school students also may be on the horizon.

``With a program like this, you need to take things in small steps,'' said Ruth Cummings, the supervising nutritionist for the school system.

And while there may be grumbles, the positive side effects are beginning to show.

``They're growing used to it. They're trying more vegetables,'' said Donna McLamb, the cafeteria manager at Deep Creek Middle School.

- Nancy Young

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