Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Child Nutrition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Osborn child nutrition department highlights scratch cooking, local procurement and equipment needs
Summary
Child Nutrition Director Corey updated the Osborn School District governing board on programs, partnerships and finances, reporting high participation under the Community Eligibility Provision, recent awards, and plans that include a Child Nutrition Center and equipment investments.
Corey, the district’s child nutrition director, told the Osborn Elementary District governing board about an expanding scratch‑cooking program, local procurement partnerships and the department’s financial position during the board’s October meeting. The department said it continues to operate under the Community Eligibility Provision, which provides free meals to students at no charge, and reported participation rates of about 90–95 percent on days surveyed.
The update explained why the department emphasizes scratch cooking and local sourcing: student taste tests feed the cycle menu, local ranch beef and watermelon procured from Duncan Family Farms appeared on recent menus, and a student‑approved fish sandwich has been added after a taste test. Corey said the district is pursuing local vendors such as K4 Ranch in Prescott for beef and has a formal partnership with Sprouts for grants and student store tours.
The presentation placed finances and capacity in context. Corey's team totals 28 employees, including two administrators, 25 site staff and one contractor; the department operates five kitchens, with one still serving as a satellite while construction finishes. The district’s CEP cycle currently runs through June 2027, and Corey said changes to federal programs and local demographics could affect eligibility at that renewal point. Meals‑per‑labor‑hour, a key efficiency metric, was reported at about 18 districtwide.
Corey highlighted external recognition and partnerships. The district earned multiple Healthy Meals Incentive (HMI) awards and several America’s Healthiest Schools awards, and staff participated in regional conferences and the Feeding the Future challenge, where district teams won at least one category. Nutrition education, led by contracted registered dietitian Teresa Mazza, reached more than 1,000 students last year and includes classroom lessons, ‘chef in the garden’ sessions with partners such as Blue Watermelon and garden kits for participating schools.
Board members asked about fund balances and potential uses of the child nutrition fund. Corey said higher-than-usual fund balances are largely intentional and earmarked for equipment and capital needs, including replacing aging walk‑in refrigerators and a refrigerated vehicle to support increased local procurement. He said a new child nutrition center is in design discussions with the bond team and architects and that the department plans a district‑wide blender‑bike program and additional internship projects tied to outreach and nutrition education.
Board members praised the department’s work and encouraged community engagement. President Ramos and several board members said the program’s visibility — including an Instagram account, NutriLicious Osborne — and family events such as the Thanksgiving community meal help show the district’s meal program to families and prospective parents.
Corey closed by listing near‑term events: the Scratch Works regional workshop in November, National School Lunch Week programming, and a presentation slot at the School Nutrition Industry Conference in January.
