PORT ANGELES — A fruit and yogurt parfait, a baked potato bar and a “build your own” taco bar — these are some of the offerings on the Port Angeles School District’s new menu, which will be introduced to Roosevelt Elementary School on Monday and to other elementary schools early next year.
“As part of the ongoing process of updating and revamping our elementary school menus, the emphasis has been placed on serving more cooked-from-scratch foods, less processed foods, plenty of fruits and vegetables, and more vegetarian options,” said Food Services Director John Koch.
“Students have been enjoying samples of new menu items the whole month of October,” Koch said, “and the time has come to implement the daily menu.’
Koch and Sodexo, which provides food services, in cooperation with Jefferson Elementary School and a district advisory committee on nutrition and physical activity, sponsored a six-week pilot program of using a new menu at Jefferson Elementary.
“We were pleased at the Jefferson response to the new menu,” said Koch, “and are thrilled to continue to grow the program at our other elementary schools this school year.”
The new menu will be introduced to Franklin Elementary School in January, to Hamilton in February and to Dry Creek in March.
The School Board approved a new food service management company contract with Sodexo America in August.
Sodexo had run the district food services for 29 years. Its one-year contract was to expire at the end of the year. Sodexo’s bid was accepted over Chartwells.
The contract begins in the 2010-2011 school year and lasts for one year, with an option for renewal without sending it out to bid again for four additional years. The company will be paid $1,495,622 per year.
The new contract included a stipulation that more fresh food be offered in the public school district’s cafeterias, and that vegetarian options be available to students.
The new requirements for local and freshly prepared food came after more than 600 parents signed petitions and spoke to the School Board requesting the measures, in a movement spearheaded by Beth Loveridge, an active community member.
The board’s proposal for the new food services contract, approved in April, outlined specific “healthy food” initiatives the district wanted from the contractor.
