Warren County school nutrition director outlines summer feeding plan, notes 229,357 meals served last year

Warren County’s school nutrition director, Terry, presented the district’s summer feeding plan and a year-in-review to the board on Thursday, saying the program is open to any child in the community age 18 and under and that last summer the district served a total of 229,357 meals.

Terry said the first handout shows the summer schedule and the materials the district will distribute to parents. The program will offer bulk 7-day meals and 3-day bulk options; in June the district will provide breakfast and lunch at all nine schools and will offer weekly bulk pickups. June bulk pickups will be on Thursdays at West Elementary and at the middle school; in July pickups will be at West Elementary only. Registration requires only the child’s first and last name and date of birth, Terry said.

Moderator noted the district’s worksheet recorded 229,357 meals served last summer and thanked volunteers who helped pack and distribute meals. Terry and the board recognized two volunteers — former director Sandy Dawes and former field supervisor Deborah Jo Shinaberry — for staffing pickup lines and loading meals into cars.

Board members asked whether rising food prices might increase demand and whether the district should add more pickup locations. A committee member said traffic at West Elementary had caused complaints in the past and asked whether the district anticipated needing more than one or two pickup sites. Terry said the state’s EDFA process (the agency that authorizes sites) determines which schools can host bulk-distribution sites and that the district could add a third location if demand and staffing permit.

Terry also reviewed year-round nutrition outreach, including Dr. Seuss week taste tests and in-school promotions. She praised school managers, singling out Connie Smith at West Elementary for handling last-minute menu tests and events. Terry said the food-service team held taste-test events and vendor demonstrations to test new menu items with students and that staff planned to expand those activities to additional schools next year.

The board thanked Terry for the presentation. The director said the pickup schedule and registration forms will be posted on the district website and social media.

The board did not take formal action on the presentation; the item was an informational update and concluded with questions and answers.