At the October 17th Board Meeting, Andrew Mendez, RDN, Nutrition Services Director, presented to the Board an update for his department and outlined the plan and preparations for the school year. He shared that students and staff have been excited with all the varieties of food and options, including freshly made salsa, pumpkin parfaits, and roasted cauliflower.
While the start of the school year has gone very well, it has not been met without changes and challenges. Before school started, the USDA’s free meals waiver, which provided free daily lunch to all students (regardless of financial qualification) for the last two years, expired on June 30th, 2022. This change created some uncertainty about what this year would look like for food service; however, everything came together, and the Nutrition Services Department is moving right along. Like many other schools and businesses, staffing and supply chain challenges are present at Kenston. The Nutrition Services Department is still in need of employees. If you are interested in applying, please click here to complete an application.
While still navigating the aftermath of the pandemic, the Nutrition Services Department is facing shortages, delays, and an increase in the cost of food items due to inflation. Mr. Mendez regularly works with Mr. Paul Pestello, Treasurer, and Mr. Jeremy McDevitt, Assistant Superintendent, to review budget trends and spending plans. To help keep the shelves stocked and students fed, Nutrition Services is actively working with vendors to check inventory levels, pulling back on variety while maintaining the quality of products and creating new innovative recipes to offer new food options. Mr. Mendez is also teaming with local vendors to provide seasonal Ohio-grown fresh fruits and vegetables to support local farmers.
The Nutrition Services Department is already looking forward to the future and continued improvement while looking into grant funding for a hydroponic gardening system for the kitchen with the potential to partner with students. Students are the driving force behind the Nutrition Services Department. With a smile, the Nutrition Services Department strives to provide the best quality products for our students.