Caney Valley Public Schools gets nearly $30,000 grant for convection oven

Kim Archer, Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
·2 min read

A new double-stack convection oven will help Caney Valley Public Schools serve meals to its students more efficiently, thanks to a nearly $30,000 National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance grant.

Treva Saucedo, director of nutrition services for Caney Valley Public Schools, shows off the new double-stack convection oven the district purchased after receiving a grant for nearly $30,000.
Treva Saucedo, director of nutrition services for Caney Valley Public Schools, shows off the new double-stack convection oven the district purchased after receiving a grant for nearly $30,000.

In cooperation with the district's food service partner, Opaa! Food Management, the oven is expected to improve food safety and assist the school cafeteria in serving healthier meals, according to a food service news release.

"We are so thankful to be selected for these funds, which make it possible for us to receive a new double stack convection oven,” said Treva Saucedo, Caney Valley's director of nutrition services. “This grant helps us better fulfill our goal to provide a nutritious, high-quality food service program that meets our school student’s needs at our middle school and high school.”

The grant was coordinated through the Oklahoma Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The statewide department identifies eligible school districts based on several criteria, including:

  • Age of food service equipment or lack of appropriate equipment

  • Ability of proposed equipment to increase efficiency in procurement, food storage, and distribution/service for school food programs

  • Availability of existing state and local funding for food service equipment

  • Strategies to make school lunchrooms more convenient and appealing to students

  • And opportunities to have a meaningful effect on nutrition and the quality of meals

Kay Divelbiss, director of nutrition outreach for Opaa!, said it is an honor to help out Caney Valley schools with its equipment needs.

“While our primary focus is on delivering great-tasting, made-from-scratch meals, we believe it’s also our job to help school districts take advantage of all the resources available to them," she said. "That includes identifying and helping them obtain grants like the National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance Grant."

Caney Valley Public Schools serves the communities of Ochelata, Oglesby, Ramona and Vera.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: Grant allows Caney Valley school cafeteria to buy convection oven