Board hears concerns about cafeteria staffing after salad and yogurt bars paused
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Summary
Parents and the district's cafeteria lead discussed temporary removal of the salad and yogurt bars because of staffing shortages, options for grab‑and‑go vegetarian meals, and a $1,000 donation to a backpack program tied to upcoming musicals.
Parents raised concerns at public comment and board discussion about recent cafeteria menu changes at the high school after reduced staffing forced the temporary removal of the salad and yogurt bars.
Randa McGowan, a parent of three, said her vegetarian daughter missed the salad and yogurt offerings and asked the district to take dietary needs into account when planning menus.
"My daughter is a vegetarian...consider dietary needs that are out there, like the vegetarians," McGowan said during public comment.
At the agenda item, Lindsey (the district cafeteria lead) explained staffing shortages forced temporary menu adjustments this week. She said the district increased hot breakfast offerings to three–four days per week starting in January and used grab‑and‑go parfaits to use inventory while staffing remains limited.
Lindsey told the board there is some flexibility under the federal "offer versus serve" rules: a reimbursable lunch can be made if students take three components (for example, two sides and milk), which could allow a vegetarian meal if the entree is declined and multiple sides are selected. However, she said large‑scale grab‑and‑go salads are labor‑intensive and the district lacks register options to track a la carte alternative meals without additional staff.
"It's all based off the staffing at the moment," Lindsey said, adding that the changes were not intended to be permanent and the district will return to prior service when staffing stabilizes.
Separately, administrators told the board PRFSD/US Foods awarded a $1,000 charitable donation to the 'Snacks to Grow On' backpack program; the district will accept the donation and place the musical theater group's request for permission to collect donation proceeds on the Tuesday voting agenda.
Next steps: staff will pursue additional cafeteria staffing (including supplemental RFPs discussed later in the meeting) and the board will consider personnel and RFP items at the next vote.