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Stratham reports tighter food‑service staffing, new preschool breakfast mandate and $5,800 Farm‑to‑School award
Summary
District administrators told the school board April 9 that meal counts are up for preschool students under a new federal/state requirement to offer breakfast, staffing hours remain reduced and the district received $5,800 from a $50,000 Farm‑to‑School grant to buy New Hampshire‑grown items.
The Stratham School District reported staffing strains in its food‑service program and described new service requirements for preschoolers during the April 9 school board meeting.
Administrators said the district is now serving breakfast and lunch to preschool students because of a recent federal/state change that requires breakfast availability for preschool. The district is adding those meals while operating with fewer part‑time cafeteria staff than in previous years. "It's just really complicated. It's not an easy fix," an administrator said, describing efforts to speed service when student counts are high so children have time to eat.
Why it matters: Board members were told that on busy days a 25‑minute lunch block can leave some students only about 10 minutes to eat when staffing is low. That can affect nutrition and supervision; administrators said they are adjusting procedures and monitoring the impact.
District staff also described the program's finances. Federal reimbursements offset some food costs but do not cover staffing; the food‑service fund typically runs a loss because it must pay salaries, equipment and operating expenses. The district's accountants book an estimated year‑end loss as an encumbrance; administrators said the current projected encumbrance for food service is about $34,442 and that the actual annual loss will be known only after year‑end accounting.
Grant and equipment updates: The district was notified it will receive a share of a Farm‑to‑School grant; the SAU (regional school unit) was awarded $50,000 and Stratham’s share is $5,800 to purchase New Hampshire‑grown fruits, vegetables and eligible protein products. Administrators said the district also accepted donated cafeteria tables from other area schools at no cost to Stratham.
Meals and policy: Administrators explained why lunch prices have been increased in recent years: federal reimbursement rates and vendor/packaging costs push districts to raise paid prices gradually (typically a minimum 10¢ annual increase when reimbursement lags costs). They also noted an increase in students qualifying for free and reduced lunch after federal formula changes.
Staffing questions from the board focused on recruitment and whether the reduction in part‑time hours reflects hiring difficulties; administrators said new part‑time hires were added this year but the combined hours remain lower than in prior years. The district described a process for second servings (families opt in at the start of the year; ID cards are punched) and said seconds are generally available but can run out on high‑demand days.
Ending: The board asked staff to return with any recommendations on pricing and staffing as the year closes; administrators said they expect to bring proposed lunch price adjustments for board consideration in May.
