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USDA review praises Prince Edward food service; leaders outline instructional-hour status and VDOE supports
Summary
District food service officials reported an unusually positive USDA federal review noting scratch cooking and local sourcing; administrators also updated the board on instructional hours, high-school scheduling to meet verified-hour requirements and ongoing VDOE corrective-action supports.
District food-service staff told the board a recent federal review of the school nutrition program was very positive and highlighted scratch-cooked items and use of local products.
“ I have to say that our review was spectacular. In my 17 years here, I think this is the best review we've had,” said the district’s food-service presenter (name not specified). The presenter said the reviewer complimented the staff, students and the use of fresh fruits and vegetables, scratch-prepared casseroles and pasta, and local products. The presenter added that menus and financial management “met all the requirements” and that the program “not only met, but it exceeded the requirements set by the USDA.”
Why it matters: A favorable federal review is important for continued participation and reimbursement under USDA child nutrition programs and can influence local confidence in the quality of school meals.
Instructional hours and corrective action updates Administrators reported the division currently meets the state requirement for instructional hours for the school year: “With the day that we missed … we’re at 1,085. So we're still within the parameters,” a staff presenter said, referring to the state-required 990 instructional hours.
The board also learned the high school must meet a separate requirement of 140 verified hours for credited courses. To meet that requirement, the high school will alter its final-semester schedule by reallocating an existing end-of-day block—currently used for clubs and character education—into instructional time.
District staff asked the board to use March 14, currently listed as a virtual teacher workday, as a professional makeup day to recapture training time that had been canceled earlier (a day that had hosted required professional development). That change was proposed to avoid extending the school year further into May.
VDOE corrective-action supports The district reported an approved corrective action plan and ongoing weekly meetings with Dr. Shields, a liaison from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). Staff described planned supports including a literacy walkthrough, science supports, parent-engagement activities, Zearn webinars for math platform use, and an on-site review related to the middle school's CSI (Comprehensive Support and Improvement) status.
What was not decided: No final policy changes to schedules were adopted at the meeting beyond the staff request and planned implementation steps; the board was asked to approve calendar changes in a separate agenda item that was voted on during the meeting.
Next steps: Staff will finalize the high-school schedule adjustments to ensure verified hours are met and will coordinate with VDOE on on-site reviews and additional supports.
