Lofty Goals Sometimes Require Outside Assistance

The regulations and guidelines required for the operation of food service programs in schools have become increasingly complex since the adoption of the Healthy Kids Healthy Foods Act several years back, and they are not getting any easier. Consider the challenges we face: The procurement of food, for example, is a lengthy process that includes not only the foods we are going to use, but it also requires planning menus that meet federal requirements. Those requirements can be very tricky and not always 'student friendly', particularly when such ingredients as sodium content have to be closely monitored and moderated. Unfortunately, some of these requirements become a burden and make it difficult to serve a meal our students find appealing. Additionally, we have to make certain both our breakfast and lunch program stay in the black, which means maintaining a delicate balance between charging too much, or charging too little. Then there are a multitude of federal and state regulations to navigate and to ensure we are in compliance. Some include the free and reduced lunch program for low income families (in Hudson this hovers right around 26%), the commodity program, and the Department of Defense fresh fruit and vegetable program. Making certain we leverage these programs for their maximum value takes great skill and expertise. Nevertheless, our food service employees are doing a good job, and continue to navigate the myriad of regulations that come with operating a substantial food service operation every day. But in spite of that hard work, it has become abundantly clear they deserve additional help. It is for that very reason we have contracted with an outside company to manage our food service program. Yes, in the purest and truest sense of the concept we are outsourcing our hot lunch program. But the caveat is that no one is losing their job. Truth be told, everyone who wants to continue to work in the lunch program will continue to do so. In fact, most will be paid a higher wage, will have an opportunity to work more hours, and have the chance for promotion within the company. So while it is true we are outsourcing; more than that we are contracting for a program, or philosophy of food service that is designed to give our food service employees access to the resources they need in order to improve the daily dining experience of our students. Our goal for food service is quite simple: increase the lunch count. Our current participation rate for hot lunch right now hovers around 41%. We can do this first and foremost by eliminating the ala carte line. But when we do this, we have to make certain that what is served on the main line is going to attract our students. Here's how we are going to do that: Offer more options. In grades 7-12 for example, we plan to offer no fewer than four main entrees per day. In addition to that, a full service all you can eat fruit and vegetable bar will be provided for students daily. At the elementary school, the same approach will be employed, the only difference being students will not have quite as many main choices. But increasing the lunch count by offering greater choices is only part of the strategy. As a student growing up myself, I can recall walking into the school each day and smelling the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen. This was an era where everything was cooked daily, from scratch. You could smell the bread baking or the hamburger cooking. The program we are implementing will include a return to hot lunch, cooked from scratch daily. Indeed these may seem like lofty goals. They are. Currently, we don't have the capacity to operate this way. We lack the purchasing power, expertise, and the training necessary for this transformation. However, we do have the manpower. This is where the food service management company becomes an important partner. After a lengthy process spanning approximately two years, we will be partnering with OPAA!, headquartered out of Chesterfield, Missouri to help us as a school district and as a food service program to achieve these goals. OPAA! is the Greek word for 'Hurrah'. With the company mission statement, 'Make Their Day', we are very excited about providing our students with a hot lunch experience that truly does, Make Their Day!