Committees report: nutrition services in surplus, lunch-fee shortfalls and transportation mandates raise budget questions

Committee reports at the April 14 Stow-Munroe Falls board meeting covered wellness, nutrition, finance and transportation, with staff and board members flagging operational pressures and potential cost-saving measures.

Wellness and nutrition: The wellness committee reported on staff training about behavior as communication and on efforts in Nutrition Services to reduce sugar, increase fresh offerings and move toward dairy-free menu options where appropriate. Committee members said Nutrition Services is operating in the black and is currently self-supporting provided families pay lunch fees. The board praised the department head’s management and discussed potential audit or required spending if fund balances grow.

Lunch fees and collections: The finance…