Petersburg City Public Schools and Tahir Food Service Management introduced their on-site school nutrition team at the Aug. 6 board meeting as the district transitions contractors for the 2025–26 school year.
Why it matters: School meal operations affect daily nutrition for students and are subject to state inspection, program rules and federal commodity use.
Interim nutrition-program administrator Talise Martin, on assignment through PeopleLink, said menus are approved, inspection permits will be displayed, staffing assignments are complete and deep cleaning and equipment checks are finished. Martin said the district’s point-of-sale system will be transitioned back from the summer program into MOSAIC for the school year.
Tahir’s district manager, Bridal Andalus, introduced chefs hired for Petersburg, highlighting culinary credentials and outreach plans. Andalus said the company prioritized candidates with culinary training and school-nutrition or hospitality backgrounds; he introduced Chef Simona Locascio and Chef Alyssa (last name provided in proposal) who will staff multiple sites and culinary programs. Tahir and district staff said some commodity ground beef will be used to support menu items.
Board members requested public tastings; one board member asked if small samples could be paired with the Aug. 20 meeting. Superintendent Brown encouraged continued partnership and said Tahir will work on-site during opening weeks to support staff.
No board vote on contract terms occurred at the meeting; Tahir’s operational team was introduced and the district’s interim administrator said certification and ServSafe training will be completed for staff.