Participation up in school lunch program

From a numbers standpoint, the new nutrition program for the Carson City School District is off to a good start.

Compared to this time last year, 11,084 more meals have been served throughout the district, a 16.5 percent increase.

"For some reason, participation in school lunches had been decreasing year after year," said Norm Scoggin, president of the school board. "This is a step in the right direction. If we can get more kids eating more healthy foods, we're all ahead."

However, for people like Hazel Ryland, the bottom line isn't the main concern.

"I think it's terribly important to bring children up to enjoy good food and to eat it," she said. "I'm really interested to see what the new contract has to offer kids."

A retired chef for the Bonanza Inn in the 1970s, which is now Glen Eagles, Ryland never had children but attended the school board's special meeting Tuesday evening where trustees received an update on the new program.

She joined board members, school officials and parents in sampling the fare.

"So far what I've had is good," she said. "I'm really impressed."

The school district contracted with food-service provider Aramark beginning this year as a means to save money on the school lunch and breakfast programs.

The goal, said operations director Mark Korinek, is to break even on the program, which cost about $380,000 last year and up to $750,000 in years past.

School board trustee Lynette Conrad had been skeptical during the planning process, and made a promise to parents that she would not support a program that was not an improvement.

From personal experience, she said, she knows she's followed through on that promise.

"My kids were never interested in hot lunch before," she said. "Now, they're eating three times a week."

Lee Conley told board members he's seen his students at Eagle Valley Middle School make healthier choices.

"Instead of eating the same old boring thing every day, they're putting themselves out there," he said. "I've seen a lot more green than I've seen in the past. There's a bunch more colors. The kids are trying a lot of new things."

Korinek listed the challenges so far, which were mainly related to staffing. Five part-time employees have been hired and the district is looking to hire five more.

Open houses are scheduled for each of the schools to showcase the new selections as well as renovations at the different cafeterias.

Sandy Powers, regional marketing director for Aramark, stressed the changes are more than cosmetic.

"We can be really good at what we do, but unless the kids and the parents notice, it's just a good idea and a really pretty building," she said.

The increased numbers, she said, show that it is happening.

"What this says is parents and kids are saying, I like this," she said.