Nutrition Group says cafeteria runs a surplus and will keep student meal prices unchanged

Kelly Patterson, regional manager with the Nutrition Group, told the Mount Pleasant Area School District board on May 6 that the district’s cafeteria program is self-sustaining and operating in the black.

"Breakfast, they are exceeding budget serving on average 619 students a day," Patterson said while outlining participation and programming. She reported the cafeteria account showed roughly a $120,000 surplus through March and that the 2026-27 budget projects a modest positive return — with no increase in student meal prices and breakfast remaining free for all students.

The presentation described menu innovations (Take Nutrition Global, Nutrition Expedition, Farm to Fork events), vendor partnerships (Alexander's Pizza twice weekly at the high school; Simon's Apple Orchard produce), and efforts to remove artificial food colorings from cereals through a General Mills partnership. Patterson credited commodity usage and purchasing practices for improving the bottom line: she said the district used about $26,000 more in USDA commodities than budgeted in April alone.

Board members later combined the food-service budget as part of consent finance motions; the proposed final budget item that followed is the subject of a separate action item. The Nutrition Group’s presentation emphasized program participation, local vendor partnerships and equipment reserve planning so the cafeteria can replace costly equipment without drawing on the district general fund.

Patterson and cafeteria manager Patrick Rulon Miller answered questions about menu programming, vendor relationships and projected cost increases in food (+5%) and paper/cleaning (+7%).