Summer food program to be provided

A complete reorganization of the Pea Ridge School District food services program is underway and includes adding a summer food program, preparing more home-cooked foods and adding online payment options.

School Board members discussed the changes at length during a Saturday morning workstudy session, then approved the changes Monday night during the regular board meeting.

The summer food program will feed children up to 18 years of age for free. It will run June 3 through July 26 and bus service will be provided.

“I think it’s a great way for us to serve our community and provide a service our students really need,” Keith Martin, assistant superintendent, said. “If you want to make a difference in a child’s life, feed them some lunch.”

Funds for the program come from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We’ve been working on changing the culture of our food service environment,” Martin said. “We want to allow the food service director to focus on meal planning, creating a meal that not only the students, but also the faculty, will want to come in and eat. We want to cater to them.”

Rick Neal, school superintendent, reminded the board that food services has been subsidized by nearly $100,000 annually for the past seven years. “If we can save $100,000 a year, that’s money we can put back into our kids.”

“We want to get away from ‘heat and eat,’” Martin said, explaining that with maximizing the use of commodities, prices per tray can be reduced and the food will be better. “A perfect example is burritos ... we can order the parts and make the burritos ourselves.”

Martin said the cooks take pride in what they do and they’re excited about the changes.

He also said a software program is being purchased that will allow the parents to pay their students’ lunch fees and look at the balances online.