Community involvement revitalizes Anchorage school foodservice
1984
Faulkner, Elizabeth
"Improve the school foodservice program (SFP) or get out of the lunch business", was the recommendation of the Anchorage, Alaska, Citizens' Advisory Educational Concerns Committee to the board of education in 1982. A new foodservice director was hired to improve the school foodservice and he immediately sought to involve the community in foodservice decision making, gathering input from students, principals, and community members and a Citizens' Advisory Committee, including additionally, parents, PTA representatives, and members of the Chamber of Commerce and state dietetic association. Many recommendations were incorporated into the new program, although some compromise, because of food and labor costs. The crucial choice to be made was whether to continue participation in the federal school lunch program. At the high school level, participation was determined, but at the junior high and elementary levels, participation was maintained. The high school program developed has several items including: a "scramble" system of multiple food position in the cafeteria, emphasizes carry out types of food, to allow students to participate in school organizations, which meet during lunch; a daily special; and paid positions for student employees, both needy and non-needy, which has eliminated the need for free and reduced price lunches. The junior high and elementary program that was developed was aimed at reducing food & labor costs. This program included: initiation of a preplating system to reduce labor costs, and heating only 90% of the expected lunch demand portions, to avoid overpopulation, achieving lower food costs. Public relations have been an important part of the program's success. Future emphasis will be to increase participation while reducing food costs. (ceh)
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