Chartwells and Birmingham Public Schools on Jan. 6 described a newly expanded work‑experience program that places students from the district’s adult transition program in school kitchens to learn life and job skills.

The program, presented at the Board of Education meeting by Patty Cook, director of dining for Chartwells, and Holly Fields, assistant director and dietitian, aims to teach kitchen‑specific skills such as food preparation, sanitation, knife safety, and workplace safety while building social and communication skills. "Our adult young learners...are working on organization skills, communication skills, and personal hygiene," Cook said.

Nut graf: District leaders said the program combines vocational training with Chartwells’ food‑service operations so students gain hands‑on experience, certificates and paid work opportunities. The program is now operating at the C Home kitchen and feeds Seaholm and other high schools.

Cook and Fields told trustees the students completed multiple required trainings before beginning work, including Oakland County basic food safety, Chartwells workplace safety, hazard communication, knife safety and USDA civil‑rights training. Students’ daily duties include stocking coolers and snack racks, assembling on‑the‑go items — smoothies, parfaits, salads and sandwiches — baking, produce washing and dishwashing. The presentation included examples of student‑made items such as a hummus platter and reduced‑sugar whole‑grain cookies.

Student participant Pia Branstrom appeared with the presenters and was identified in the meeting as a young adult learner working in the program. Trustees and staff described the program as part of the district’s broader effort to provide transition services and post‑school employment pathways. "Our goal is to collaborate with the teachers and the students to provide educational opportunities to teach them life skills in a kitchen," Cook said.

Program leaders said a team of five young adult learners and Chartwells staff currently help prepare roughly 350 meals daily that are served to high school students. The district and Chartwells said their longer‑term goal is to hire some program participants as paid members of Chartwells’ staff.

Ending: Trustees thanked the presenters and noted the program’s role in board appreciation month items placed on trustees’ desks (charcuterie boards and other gifts were produced by program participants). Board materials provided at the meeting list Chartwells as the district’s food‑service partner and describe the BATP collaboration; no personnel hires or contract amendments were proposed during the meeting.