School lunch highlights from Western states

Food and Nutrition, Oct, 1985 by Tino Serrano, Dee Amaden

School Lunch Highlights From Western States

Sumner, Washington

At McAlder Elementary School in Sumner, Washington, participation in the lunch program jumped 30 percent with the introduction of "Willie the Wagon,' a colorful, portable, self-service food cart.

Children file along both sides of the red and white cart and assemble their own lunches from the selection of items in the wagon. They load their choices onto lunch trays which slide on rails 2 feet off the ground.

The simple, single change in the cafeteria had an immediate dramatic effect on students. They like being able to make their own decisions about what they eat.

"We're seeing many more children eating, and they're eating better,' says Mimi Graves, food service manager for the Sumner district. "They're trying a greater variety of foods, and we're having less waste.'

The system guarantees students get at least three of the five lunch components while leaving them the freedom to choose from among several selections. They also get to choose any extras, like toppings.

And while the students are enjoying their new freedom to serve themselves, they're saving work for the cafeteria staff.

Graves and McAlder cafeteria manager Rita McKibben are as enthusiastic about Willie as the students. Not only did the cart increase participation dramatically, it doubled the speed of the line up to more than 13 children a minute, and has made the lunchroom staff's jobs more rewarding. "We see the kids really enjoying coming to lunch--and that makes us feel pretty good, too.'

The name "Willie the Wagon' was suggested by Sumner third grader Shane Little. The idea for the wagon came from a national conference Graves attended. She stresses that the concept is more important than the cart itself.

"Schools don't have to use fancy equipment to offer these choices to students,' she explains. "A low table, for example, would work fine.'

For more information, contact:

Miriam Graves Sumner School District 1202 Wood Avenue Sumner, Washington 98390 Telephone: (206) 863-2201

Phoenix, Arizona

Last year the five-school Osborne, Arizona, School District was struggling to keep its lunch program open. This year the program is thriving. The difference: a consolidation that has strengthened the school lunch program at two small districts near Phoenix and allowed them to expand their operations.

"Like many small school lunch programs,' says Pearl Loutzenheiser, food service director of the neighboring twice-as-large Alhambra School District, "Osborne just didn't have the resources to do those extra things that would increase participation and make the program viable.'

Osborne school officials, concerned about their failing lunch program, asked the Arizona school food service agency for help. The state staff recommended a merger with Loutzenheiser's district. With the support of Alhambra's superintendent and school board, the two districts worked out an intergovernmental agreement to bring the consolidation about.

It has been a year since the merger took place, and Loutzenheiser has consolidated menu planning, ordering, purchasing, and staff training. "What had been a very expensive program for one small district,' she says, "has become a very economical proposition for two.'

Loutzenheiser conservatively estimates that the merger has saved at least $16,500 for Alhambra and nearly as much for Osborne in the first year of consolidation.

As a result of the savings, she has been able to raise salaries and replace supplies and equipment that had been neglected for years due to tight budgets. She has also opened several new salad bars in area schools, which have attracted more students to the cafeterias.

The preliminary success of the Alhambra-Osborne merger has already prompted one other possible consolidation in Arizona, and Loutzenheiser hopes it will inspire others.

For more information, contact:

Pearl Loutzenheiser Alhambra School District 3001 West Hazelwood Phoenix, Arizona 85017 Telephone: (602) 246-5136

Mesa, Arizona

The lunch program in the Mesa, Arizona, School District has a lot going for it. Participation in the 35 elementary schools averages 72 percent and the program is selfsupporting. An interesting aspect of the program is the permanent nutrition education staff, who manage a very active nutrition education program, including a week-long visit to most schools once a year.

The nutrition staff includes two full-time and two part-time nutritionists. Mesa food services manager Barbara Savastio feels the team pays for itself because of the income from the increased lunch participation the team generates.

"The staff does more than teach nutrition,' she explains. "They create a lot of interest in the lunch program and bring back ideas from the children about how to improve school lunch.'

The nutrition staff has developed a mobile nutrition education resource center, which they use to take their training program to Mesa's elementary schools. During the week they spend at the grade schools, the nutritionists give presentations geared to each grade level, ranging from puppet shows on the four food groups to sessions on the relationship between nutrition and physical fitness.