Indian Hill presentation outlines expanded food-service plans, all-day cafe and student-run 'IH Blends'

Aramark food-service director Adam Loop presented the district with a year-end update and several changes aimed at expanding student access to meals and hands-on learning.

Loop, who identified himself as Aramark’s food-service director serving Indian Hill, said Aramark will keep the district compliant with federal nutrition standards while launching new services at the high school. "This all day cafe is gonna take place in the cafeteria, and we're gonna be open from 07:30 to 02:30," Loop said, describing plans to offer healthy snacks and items beyond the current single lunch period.

The proposal includes installing credit and debit card readers at the high school to address delays families sometimes face when funds are placed on student accounts. Loop said the change will let students make purchases immediately rather than waiting 24–48 hours for electronic deposits.

Loop also described IH Blends, a student-run smoothie bar supported by Aramark mentorship and limited start-up assistance. "IH Blends is gonna be a fully self sustaining small business within Indian High School," he said, adding that Aramark’s role will be mentorship and administrative support rather than day-to-day operation.

Loop highlighted several noncommercial efforts that tie nutrition to curriculum: student surveys used each February to shape menus, collaboration with the high-school hydroponics club to use student-grown lettuce in the cafeteria, and project-based learning opportunities where students participate in menu design and service. He also noted that Aramark led focus groups to gather student feedback on a major high-school schedule change.

Board members praised Aramark’s on-site support. One board member said Adam "stayed the whole time because he invested in them," and another credited the food-service team with feeding several hundred students during a recent emergency evacuation. Loop described that incident as an example of the vendor’s rapid response capacity: when 650 students arrived unexpectedly at an elementary site, Aramark staff provided meals within minutes.

Board members asked whether the district could leave the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to gain menu flexibility. Loop and trustees said the timing for that conversation is procedural: the operations committee will review the pros and cons and the district will have to address the elementary-level procurement at the next RFP cycle. A trustee summarized the timeline as roughly next March for decisions tied to the RFP and suggested involving Aramark in that committee discussion to assess options.

Loop also reviewed operational items Aramark will continue to provide: posting monthly menus on the district website (with a plan to post elementary and primary menus for the full year prior to the school year), continuing student surveys to reduce "menu fatigue," and expanding service hours to better meet student and staff needs.

The presentation concluded with trustees thanking Aramark for partnership and mentorship; board members directed staff to add a discussion about the NSLP and the upcoming elementary RFP to the operations committee agenda.