Moses Lake School District staff describe daily school meal operations and USDA compliance

A staff member for the Moses Lake School District said the district serves about 40,000 breakfasts and 100,000 lunches each month and described the kitchens' daily routines, staffing and food-safety practices.

The staff member said head cooks typically start their shifts at about 4:45 a.m., with assistant cooks and server helpers arriving later to prepare breakfast and lunch service. "In the life of a cook with Moses Lake School District, I would say a lot of them go in at the head cooks go in at 4:45 in the morning," the speaker said.

The speaker described a clear division of responsibilities in each kitchen and said their own role is "making sure everybody has everything they need to do their job." They emphasized teamwork and operational expectations such as temperature and holding controls to protect food safety.

On recordkeeping and nutrition standards, the staff member said the district follows U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements and prepares production records so that "by the time they get on the desk of the cooks, everything for USDA is all taken care of." That process, the speaker said, ensures meals meet established nutritional guidelines.

The speaker concluded by praising the lunch staff's commitment: "What makes me most proud is that these lunch ladies have the biggest heart... Our cooks are awesome," and said the team's priority is serving as many students as possible each day.

No formal actions, motions or votes were recorded in the provided transcript. The remarks provided an operational overview rather than changes in policy or funding.