Lori Drenth, Food Services Director, spoke to the Hernando County School Board at the afternoon workshop on 10/18/16 to propose improvements to the food service departments for four schools: Brooksville Elementary, Westside Elementary, Fox Chapel Middle, and Central High School.
Where does this money come from? Food service is an enterprise fund, which means it operates differently from the rest of the district. Not only do they receive money from the government to provide meals at low-cost or no charge to children from lower incomes, but they are also required by statute to charge fees to provide meals to other students/individuals at a specific minimum rate.
“Last year,” Drenth said, “was a very good year for food services.” With a surplus greater than $1.13 million, it is easy to see why. The 2014-2015 surplus was approximately $57,000. “Our responsibility is to…turn around and put that money back into food services.”
The majority of the increase came from the federal government’s reimbursement due to the participation of more students. What has helped increase the ongoing federal reimbursement is the summer lunch program as well as the new supper program, which Drenth states “is growing like gangbusters across the district.” Food costs, including fresh produce, have decreased slightly.
Central High School’s improvements will include replacing the freezer and walk-in cooler, overhauling the serving lines, replacing kitchen flooring, and student meal area at a cost of nearly $500,000. Fox Chapel’s similar upgrades will cost around $300,000.
Westside Elementary and Brooksville Elementary will each take advantage of a $50,000 grant to update the serving lines, but will still cost $80,000 and $110,000, respectively. Close to $170,000 is also needed to pay for electrical, plumbing, and architectural/engineering services for the combined projects.
Drenth explained to the school board members that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services evaluates school food services expenses at the end of each school year (SY). If the school district shows a budget surplus that is greater than three (3) months, the Agriculture Department will send a letter (or email) requiring that school district to provide a corrective action plan (CAP) showing how the excess money will be spent.
Drenth stated that she expects to receive a notice about the surplus from the 2015-2016 school year. There are specific guidelines as to how the school district can use the money, which Drenth stated is included in a 113-page document, and that is why the improvements to the four schools can be completed.
School board members suggested alternate uses: enhance “farm to table” programs at schools, where schools grow produce to be consumed by students, such as the program at Pine Grove Elementary; training for food service staff to help with those programs, or other training needs; additional staff to move students through the lines faster. “Anything is feasible,” Drenth responded, but stated that the fresh garden approach could be addressed in the current budget rather than the surplus.
Getting the projects designed/approved and contracts out for bid will take time. Look for these improvements to occur during the summer of 2017 so that the school year is not disrupted with construction in the food service areas. While the board gave tentative approval for the surplus to be transferred for the projects, the item will have to come before a formal board meeting for a vote.