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Bastrop ISD to bring child-nutrition operations in-house, hires experienced director
Summary
The board heard a report that the district will transition food services in-house, hired Rachel Talapore as director, plans staff onboarding and menu/technology changes and will return with final budget figures after transition.
Bastrop Independent School District will bring its child-nutrition program in-house starting this summer, the district's chief financial officer told trustees on June 17. The board received a department report and no formal action was required.
Mike White, the district's CFO, introduced the newly hired child-nutrition director, Rachel Talapore, and said the district is taking administrative and operational steps to run the food-service program internally beginning July 1. White said Talapore has about 15 years of experience in school nutrition programs and that administrators are finalizing staff roles, procurement and technology (point-of-sale and menu systems) this month.
White and Talapore said key steps include continuing the district's summer feeding sites, completing procurements through cooperative purchasing agreements (items in the consent agenda), staffing manager and cook positions, onboarding current and new cafeteria employees, and setting menus and dietary standards in consultation with dietitians. The administration plans a final review of the child-nutrition budget after new staff are in place and recommended pay rates and will return to the board with any required budget amendments in August.
White said the district's food service has participated in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), so student meals remain free at qualifying campuses and that adult or a la carte pricing will be decided as the new program details are finalized. Trustees asked about scratch cooking vs. prepackaged meals; White and Talapore said the district will prepare meals on-site and focus on menu quality, drawing on Talapore's experience.
Why this matters
Operating food services in-house shifts staffing and procurement to the district, affects cafeteria employment and can change menus, procurement costs and capital needs (kitchen equipment and freezers). The district said the food-service fund is a stand-alone budget tied to federal child-nutrition rules and any savings or surpluses would be reinvested in the program.
What happens next
Administration: complete procurement items, hire and onboard kitchen staff, finalize menus and point-of-sale systems and present a revised child-nutrition budget in August once staffing and pay details are confirmed.
