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Hardy County Schools say summer meal distribution reached 3,017 boxes; district reports net summer food shortfall covered
Summary
Child nutrition director Emily Cohen told the board the district distributed about 3,017 summer meal boxes and spent roughly $222,000 while receiving just under $270,000 in summer‑food reimbursements; the district covered a child‑nutrition shortfall this year and installed new equipment and monitoring systems to reduce future waste.
Emily Cohen, the district’s child nutrition director, told the Hardy County Schools Board of Education that the district distributed about 3,017 summer meal boxes and by late summer was serving roughly 539 students every two weeks.
“We sent out about 3,017 meal boxes out,” Cohen said, and added that “we spent about $222,000 on meal boxes, and our summer food reimbursement was a little under $270,000.” She described vendor arrangements that produced savings — a supplier initiative that yielded about $11,000 in discounts shared between the county’s six schools — and summer purchases that included a state‑funded steamer the district installed and is training staff to use.
Cohen also described a new temperature‑monitoring system for refrigerators and freezers that she said has reduced food losses by generating alerts when equipment goes out of compliance. “It has definitely saved us food,” she said, noting she received alerts even on weekend mornings and was able to remove items before spoilage.
Board members and staff discussed recurring delivery and logistics problems, including a vendor shipment that appeared damaged in transit. Cohen said the vendor’s shipments moved through UPS and at least one box arrived with an unknown blue residue; that box was not distributed and was discarded. She said the district will consider alternative vendors next year and is evaluating whether to shift to locally prepared meal shipments if delivery problems persist.
The board also discussed an administrative change limiting free adult meals provided by schools. Board members said principals were given a small number of free adult meals to award to staff who assist the nutrition program; administrators said the change aims to curb inconsistent practices and control costs.
The board’s business official later reported the district covered child nutrition expenses by roughly $601,000 this year when salaries and associated costs were included; the board will review these figures in greater detail at an upcoming budget retreat.
The board did not take separate formal action on the child‑nutrition presentation; staff said they would continue evaluating vendor options and operational changes ahead of next summer.
