Norwood’s food-service team told the school committee Dec. 3 that meal participation and revenue have increased and that the district remains enrolled in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP), which provides free breakfast and lunch to all students.

Food-service staff reported year-to-date meal counts up by roughly 9,000 and said the program’s profit-and-loss position was about $51,000 compared with a budgeted $45,000 line. The team said the reimbursement rate changes helped revenue and that the program’s higher meal counts increase capacity to reinvest in equipment and staffing.

Resident dietitian Kelsey Lockett described student engagement initiatives such as a student-choice menu and a “mood boost” program at elementary schools that links nutrient-rich foods to wellness education. Lockett also credited community partners and volunteers for a recent wellness fair that included activity stations and giveaways.

Operational and capital items proposed or discussed included replacing a high‑school dishwasher, buying a new warewashing dishwasher for the Savage Center to support reusable trays (ending outsourced tray washing), new furnishing for the food-nutrition office, and a passenger vehicle/small cargo van to support the student engagement manager. Staff said new equipment could pay for itself over a few years through reduced outsourcing costs. The district also said staffing was adjusted to serve the new middle school and that meals at that site increased by about 2,300.

Administration reiterated a budget constraint: the school nutrition revolving account may only be used for school-nutrition purposes. “The school nutrition revolving account has to be used for school nutrition purposes,” a district official said, warning the committee that funds cannot be diverted to non-nutrition items. Staff said they would vet capital ideas against allowable uses and existing reimbursements before seeking committee approval.

The committee was told a field trip related to the performing-arts recognition and an insurance policy item appear on the consent agenda for later approval; capital purchases linked to food service were described as items the administration would bring forward when vetted.

Next steps: capital and equipment requests will be refined, vetted against the school nutrition fund rules, and brought to the committee as part of the consent or capital requests for formal approval.