USD 383 reports more than 1 million student meals last year; board praises child nutrition staff

Manhattan‑Ogden USD 383’s child nutrition annual report was presented Aug. 6 and board members thanked staff for the program’s scale and quality.

Stephanie Smith submitted the child nutrition annual report as a written item in the board packet. Board members praised Smith and her staff for their efforts to prepare meals largely from scratch and to incorporate locally sourced fruits and vegetables where possible. One board member noted that Americans’ broad preference for processed foods makes the district’s emphasis on whole foods for students particularly challenging and important.

The board packet and members noted that during the previous fiscal year the child nutrition department provided 1,046,711 student meals. Board members also pointed to an increase in the number of sites offering meals at elementary schools and asked staff to flag ways the board could assist with advocacy, policy, or collaboration.

Board members described school meals as essential to learning, saying children cannot learn effectively if not fed, and they urged continued attention to reducing waste while providing balanced meals at affordable cost. The board encouraged staff to identify any policy or advocacy needs to support the program.

Related community activity reported during board comments included Fit Closet and supply distribution efforts: one board member reported 840 backpacks distributed during in‑person registration day, while another reported seeing the count at 910 the following day; both figures were cited in the meeting comments as evidence of strong community support for students.