ATTLEBORO - Elimination of students' snacks at three city middle schools is drawing fire from some parents who say growing children need fuel to learn.

The principals of the Brennan, Wamsutta and Coelho Middle Schools sent home letters to parents earlier this month outlining a number of changes that have been made to make policies more consistent among the three buildings. However, a decision to do away with snacks has drawn criticism from parents, who say hunger may affect their child's learning.

"My son's starving by 9 or 9:30," said Brenda Furtado, whose has a fifth-grader attending Wamsutta.

Furtado said her son is allowed to continue having his snack because of a medical problem. However, she is concerned about other children, and says she and other parents are considering raising the issue with the superintendent or school committee.

Wamsutta Principal Karol Coffin said all three schools sent home a letter covering several changes, including the snack policy, music and art classes and the discontinuance of overnight field trips. Coffin said a middle school administrative team made up of the three schools principals and assistants have been working to make policies and practices more uniform. Principals of all three schools are scheduled to be present at tonight's school committee meeting to discuss the changes, said Superintendent Pia Durkin.

According to the letter, snack times during class are taking up too much instruction time, and a decision was made to eliminate them. However, the schools made adjustments by moving up lunch times so that the first lunch begins around 10:50 a.m.

Students with medical needs are being accommodated on a case-by-case basis.

Students are still allowed to bring water bottles that can be used between classes.

Some parents raised the issue at a PTO meeting last week at Wamsutta, Furtado said, and Coffin acknowledged that some parents were upset.

Coffin said snacks can take as long as 20 minutes, and having as much time available as possible for lessons is a high priority.

The principal said she understands that snacks have been ingrained as part of school culture for many years, but that the change in policy may become more palatable as time goes on.

"We need to give this some time," she said.

School committee Chairwoman Roberta Wuilleumier said she can see the parents' and students' side.

"I need a granola bar at 10," Wuilleumier said. The letter sent home by the principals also said the schools will no longer offer a popular overnight field trip to Washington, D.C., and will consider educational day trips instead.

Coffin said the cost of the trips has risen to $500 per student, participation is down and that last year only two of the schools participated.

The three schools also have aligned their course offerings so that art is offered in fifth, sixth and seventh grades in all buildings.

RICK FOSTER can be reached at 508-236-0360 or at rfoster@thesunchronicle.com.