South Washington County Schools details nutrition budget, vendor change and kitchen upgrade needs

South Washington County Schools nutrition leaders presented their 2025–26 budget assumptions and program highlights at a May 8 workshop at the district service center in Cottage Grove, saying higher participation, a new prime vendor and equipment replacement needs are driving spending and capital requests.

The presentation, delivered by Wendy Peterson, director of nutrition services, and Bobbie Jo Grama, assistant director of nutrition services, described a food-rescue program that redistributes unconsumed but safe food to the Basic Needs food pantry and steady increases in meal participation tied to the continuation of free school meals this year.

"This last month, we actually hit 5,700 pounds in one month of donated food items," Wendy Peterson, director of nutrition services, said of the food-rescue program that began in October as a pilot at five schools and has since expanded. District staff said year-to-date donations are approaching roughly 20,000 pounds.

Nut Graf: District officials said nutrition services now operate like a "business within a business," relying mostly on federal and state meal reimbursements and a la carte sales. That financial model, rising participation and aging kitchen equipment are shaping next year’s budget assumptions, department leaders told the school board.

Bobbie Jo Grama…