Board approves food‑service contracts and funds a new food service coordinator

The Faribault Public School District board on June 15 approved multiple food‑service actions: joint nutrition agreements for FY26‑27, four vended‑meal agreements and the creation of a full‑time food service coordinator position funded from the food service fund.

District staff explained that the joint agreements (with Canon Valley Special Education Co‑op and Nurse Strand Elementary Charter School) make those sites treated as district sites for meal delivery and claims, and that the vended meal agreements (Discovery Charter, Surat Academy, Little Scholars and Head Start) cover meal production at district sites and delivery logistics. Ms. Raceler said the district charges for vended meals and monitors CACFP and other program compliance.

To manage workload from serving 13 sites and multiple programs, the district proposed a 260‑day, full‑time food service coordinator position paid from Fund 2 (food service). "When being monitored, it has been stated more than once that with all the programs and the sites that we cover in this district, MDE would recommend another person in our food service program," Ms. Raceler said, explaining the rationale. The board approved the coordinator position for the coming year with the expectation of continuing it if needed.

Why it matters: The coordinator is intended to centralize monitoring, reimbursement accuracy and RFP work so that general fund staff time is not further burdened. Board members asked whether the position would recover revenue; staff said the role would mostly create operational savings to the general fund by shifting workload to the food service fund.

Outcome: The board approved the joint agreements, vended meal contracts and the food service coordinator position by voice votes; staff will report back on implementation and monitoring.