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Julie Hellberg spotlit as longtime food-services worker for Williston Basin School District #7
Summary
A district food-services assistant described the scale of the school meal program — averaging 905 breakfasts, 2,929 lunches and 185 after-school snacks daily — and explained why feeding students matters to learning.
Julie Hellberg, a food-services assistant for Williston Basin School District #7, described the scope of the district’s meal operations, saying the district serves “on average 905 breakfasts, 2,929 lunches, and 185 after school snacks.”
Regina Barbian, the district’s food services director, introduced the spotlight and identified Hellberg as her assistant. Barbian said, “I'm Regina Barbian, and I'm the Food Services Director, and this is Julie, my assistant!”
Hellberg traced her career in the district, saying she began as a second cook for her grandmother at Louis and Clark, later worked at Rickard, served 10 years as a head cook, and has been working upstairs for the last three years. “This is my favorite piece of equipment. It's a 55-gallon steam kettle. It's where we cook our hamburger meat for our spaghetti, sloppy joes, taco meat. We make chili in here,” she said, describing routine kitchen operations.
She emphasized the program’s purpose: “The kids! The kids need a good meal to start the day and to finish their day - can't learn if they're hungry! That's what it's all about; that's why we're here!” Hellberg added that, three times a week, staff provide 3,800 fresh fruit and vegetable snacks throughout the district.
The segment was framed as a staff spotlight rather than a policy discussion; there were no formal actions or votes. The exchange ended with staff thanking one another for the work and the opportunity to serve students.
