Board presses child nutrition and maintenance on broken ovens, equipment and menu consistency

Board members pressed Caswell County Schools’ child nutrition and maintenance staff over recurring broken kitchen equipment, menu rotations, and how menus are implemented at the school level. Members asked for an itemized list of broken equipment and clarification of repair and replacement responsibility.

Child nutrition staff said menus are prepared centrally and provided as a rotation to schools, but managers may adjust menus school-by-school based on availability or to use existing inventory. Board members pushed for clearer expectations that the posted menu be served and suggested taste tests and more varied options for next school year.

During a series of walkthroughs at schools, board members and staff reported a number of ovens, warmers and freezers that are failing or have nonfunctional zones; staff said maintenance has been trying to address issues but lacks the contracting capacity to fully diagnose and repair specialized equipment. The district does not have a standing service contract for commercial kitchen equipment repairs, staff said, and recommended the board consider contracting external service providers to diagnose issues over the summer.

Board members asked for: a current list of all broken or problematic kitchen appliances (to be returned at the next meeting); documentation of equipment recently bought with grant funds and whether those units are still serviceable; a plan for summer service contracts to diagnose and repair ovens and warmers; and consideration of taste tests to improve menu uptake.

Staff said they would prepare a consolidated equipment list for the board and coordinate with maintenance to create a procurement or service-contract strategy for the summer.