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Audit finds five compliance issues in Dysart’s National School Lunch Program; district to adjust adult meal pricing and correct records
Summary
An administrative review by the Arizona Department of Education found five findings across three categories in Dysart Unified’s National School Lunch Program; the district said it will change adult meal pricing at Community Eligibility Provision sites, correct grain-crediting records and has completed required staff training.
Dysart Unified School District officials told the governing board Monday that a recent administrative review of the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) produced five findings and that the district has addressed or begun to correct them.
Mary Dell Bridal, who led the presentation, said the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) conducts administrative reviews to check meal compliance, financial management, staff training and recordkeeping. The district’s review covered documentation and four site visits: Dysart High School, Riverview, Freedom Traditional and Rancho Gabriela.
Bridal said auditors identified five total findings — fewer than the 15–25 findings ADE often reports for districts — spread across three compliance categories. The board was told the findings included adult meal pricing at certain Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) sites that was charged below ADE’s required minimums; a professional‑standards training lapse by the district nutrition liaison that has since been completed and documented; and two items related to grain‑crediting on product specifications for burger buns and corn chips. Bridal said the grain-crediting records showed an overstatement relative to the menu documentation and that the district has corrected records to reflect proper crediting.
A final finding related to a sponsor‑application letter: the district had used a custom form but inadvertently indicated the standard template in ADE records. That discrepancy has been corrected, district staff said.
A district nutrition leader who answered board questions said charging below ADE’s required adult‑meal minimums is allowed only if non‑federal funds cover the shortfall; ADE flagged the CEP sites because the lower adult prices were not covering food and labor costs. Bridal said the district will adjust adult pricing and bring any required board approvals to the governing board.
Board members asked about the training cadence for the nutrition liaison; staff responded the training is “one and done” for incumbents but must be completed again when a new nutrition liaison is hired. Bridal praised her nutrition services team and said the audit affirmed strong overall performance despite the limited number of findings.
