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District nutrition services report shows rising participation, farm‑to‑school expansions and policy edits after WDE audit
Summary
Nutrition services reported higher breakfast participation, a farm‑to‑school day featuring local beef and grains, nearly 48% of students on free/reduced programs, and recommended policy/regulation changes proposed after a Wyoming Department of Education audit.
The Uinta County School District No. 1 nutrition services director told the board the department increased student meal participation this year, expanded farm‑to‑school sourcing and recommended several policy updates following a Wyoming Department of Education audit.
The director said breakfast participation has climbed after menu changes that added more proteins and fresh fruit; staff used Department of Defense fresh fruit and vegetable funds to source local produce. For a Farm to School Day, the department served a local menu that included beef sourced from Meriwether Farms, corn from 1890 Farms, buns made with Wyoming heritage grains, and a peach dessert prepared with Utah peaches and Wyoming oats. The district reported helping shuck 1,500 ears of corn and preparing approximately 200 pounds of peaches for the meal.
The director noted nearly 47.97% of district students currently qualify for free meals, a 1.6 percentage‑point increase from the previous year, and said rising cost of living contributed to the uptick. The department also uses catering and community events to offset costs and increase revenue.
Following an audit by the Wyoming Department of Education, staff recommended updates to the district’s meal charge policy regulation (EF‑R‑1) and the EFCA Health and Wellness Policy. The board approved the changes on first reading and directed staff to bring the documents back for second reading per normal policy procedures.
Board members asked how the nutrition services budget is forecast given volatile food costs; the director said the department will continue to increase participation to maximize federal reimbursements and pursue local procurement, and noted ongoing efforts to use commodity and grant funds for local purchases. The director also said the district participates in the state’s Farm to School “crunch off,” where Evanston schools provided nearly 30% of Wyoming’s logged bites in the most recent regional contest.
No final budget decisions were made at the meeting; policy regulation changes will return for second reading.
