Officials seek improved school food program
STURGIS — Officials and stakeholders at Sturgis Public Schools are working to bring a better, healthier meal option to the district students.
The board of education on Monday heard an update from superintendent Art Ebert on the process being taken to evaluate the current food service program.
Throughout the past school year, consultant Rusty Stitt met with stakeholders and food service staff to gather input on the first phase of a new program that will provide more favorable food choices to students. That phase would include the removal of foods rated poorly by students.
The first of two phases would also open the opportunity for students to proposed self-building lunch options, such as a taco salad.
Ebert said the second phase would involve the seeking of a partner that can provide "best practices" in food service that would "meet stakeholder needs."
A request for proposals is to go out this month, with those proposals due in September. Interviews with potential partners would be conducted in October, with a selection made in November, and in effect by the 2024-25 school year.
Ebert said the adjustment in the food service program is "not looking to save costs but to meet the needs" of the students.
"It may possibly cost more money," Ebert said, but would be worth it in the long run.
The board of education also approved the hiring of new staff and teachers, and welcomed them: middle school science teacher Amanda Morgan; Eastwood Elementary fifth-grade teacher Samantha Setterblad; Congress second-grade teacher Sara Kelly; Eastwood music teacher Michelle Gruver; Eastwood counselor Hadijah Auble, and high school English teacher Olivia Oberc.
This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Officials seek improved school food program
