Martinez Unified reports positive food‑service audit feedback, menu changes and participation trends

District food services supervisor Jeffrey Yao, accompanied by Chartwells staff, briefed trustees on nutrition programs, audit timelines, participation and menu work.

Yao said the district completed off‑site paperwork and on‑site audits with the California Department of Education (a USDA requirement) and expects final results in April; preliminary feedback from auditors was "very positive," with praise for service and compliance.

On participation, staff described a recent dip in November and a recovery by February. Yao reported participation metrics to the board and said the district is targeting higher participation with a three‑option menu approach that pairs healthier scratch‑made entrees with student favorites. "We still want to feature a lot of scratch made meals... but also make sure kids eat," Yao said, describing menu examples and taste‑testing events.

Staff also reviewed 2026–27 regulatory shifts and noted California’s recently adopted restrictions on certain additives and wider efforts to reduce sugar and sodium in school meals. Yao said current menu items comply with those rules and that the district will continue to balance nutrition goals with student preferences to sustain participation.

Board members praised the improved food quality and staff noted operational constraints (milk is not reimbursed and a complete meal is required for federal reimbursement), explaining why students must take a full meal for milk to be reimbursable rather than selling milk separately.