Salem schools begin district-made pizza pilot; nutrition staff report higher September income

Assistant Superintendent Debbie Payne reported to the board that School Nutrition Services showed higher year-over-year September income — roughly $20,000 more — and about $10,000 more in expenses when compared with the same month last year. Payne attributed part of the expense rise to one-time small-equipment purchases needed to produce home-made pizza and to supplies for new menu stations.

Payne said the district launched homemade pizza at the high school in October and planned to expand the recipe to Woodbury Middle School and then to elementary schools in November. The high school also is piloting a rotating cafeteria “restaurant” concept with themed stations: the current rotation included a Chick-fil-A–style station called “Phil’s” and an upcoming “Slice City” station modeled on Jersey Mike’s.

Why it matters: The district’s move away from vendor-supplied pizza to in-house production is intended to improve meal quality and potentially reduce future vendor costs; staff said early results at the high-school level were positive.

What to watch: Nutrition staff will report back in a future planning session with results and any required programmatic adjustments; the board asked no formal action.