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District nutrition services reports 420,681 meals served last year; new menu items, staffing updates announced
Summary
Nutrition Services presented fiscal and program updates: three new staff hires, the district operated under Community Eligibility and served 420,681 meals last year, and new menu items (stromboli, breakfast pierogi) are being introduced.
Alex Singer, director of nutrition services, told the Central School District 13J board on Oct. 7 that the department finished the prior fiscal year under budget and reported operations and menu changes.
Singer said the department added three staff members for the 2024–25 year and finished the last year about 6.85% under budget after reducing annual expenditures. Under the district’s participation in the Community Eligibility Provision — which allows all students to receive free meals during the certification cycle — the district served 420,681 meals in the last fiscal year: 141,370 breakfasts, 254,516 lunches, 19,339 suppers and 5,454 summer meals. Singer said changes to certification rules increased the share of students classified as directly certified, boosting federal reimbursement.
Singer previewed new menu items including a stromboli and a breakfast item described as a "breakfast pierogi" with turkey sausage and cheese; both are pending delivery and taste testing. He also described an upcoming professional development trip for nutrition staff to the Oregon School Nutrition Association conference and a spring tasting event for board members and the public.
Discussion/Direction: Board members asked how the district’s four‑year CEP cycle works and whether sack lunches or emergency meal distribution are provided during unexpected closures; Singer said CEP cycles run four years and that holiday or summer meal distributions are provided in some circumstances.
Ending: Singer said staff will coordinate the tasting event and continue efforts to expand menu variety while maintaining program stability under CEP.
