Big Lake board approves food-service budget revisions, adds two teaching positions after presentation by new director

The Big Lake Public School District board approved revisions to the food-service budget, accepted the monthly financial report and authorized two 2025–26 staff additions — one high-school DCD/ASD teacher and one elementary teacher — following a presentation by new food-service director Alyssa Waksman.

Waksman, introduced to the board as the district’s new food-service director, outlined participation rates and program ideas. She told the board she has worked in the food industry since age 16 and has five weeks on the job. She provided school-by-school participation figures the district is using to track program performance: Liberty Elementary breakfast participation 45% (down 4 percentage points from last year) and lunch 80% (down 2 points); Independence Elementary breakfast 29% (down 9 points) and lunch 79% (about…