Staff writer
After discussion at its previous two meetings, the USD 408 Board of Education approved on Monday the adoption of a food service provider for its elementary, middle, and high schools.
Superintendent Lee Leiker said current food service staff will be retained, and continue to work for the district.
The district contracted with Opaa! Food Management Inc. to oversee its food operations starting next year. Leiker said the program should improve food quality, lessen food costs, and provide students with more choices.
Opaa! is the only company that submitted a bid for the service. They will construct menus, order food, and ensure food-service requirements are met.
The contract with the district is on a per-tray basis, Leiker said.
“They’re doing some promotional stuff as well, they’ll give a free coupon to all staff members, let them try the food for free,” he said.
Students will sign up for the choice they want each day.
“We’re going to have to make sure, then, that students are eating what they signed up for,” Leiker said. “We’ll have a little bit of, I think, some growing pains.”
Leiker gave an example of a lunch menu, with five choices — “super nachos” with Spanish rice, chicken-and-cheese quesadilla, Stromboli, garden fresh salad bar, or a chicken sandwich bar. The next day, he said, would offer a baked potato bar, garden fresh salad bar, chicken patty, corn dog, or roast turkey.
In other business:
- The school will auction off a number of old items 5 p.m. Monday at the former Saddle Club building. Items include: an old district pickup truck, a bus that is no longer used, overhead projectors, a furnace, televisions, television mounts, desks, lunch trays, server racks, a lamp, chalkboards, old encyclopedias, and more.
- The board approved the creation of a scholarship to be awarded to a senior wrestler. The scholarship will be managed by the district and be offered this year.
- Leiker said the track renovations should be complete in time for the league meet, which is scheduled for Friday at Marion.
- The board accepted the resignation of vocal music instructor Julia Miller and hired Tomas Lombotte for the same position.