JEFFERSONVILLE —
Caribbean chicken is a dish Taunya Mann said she’d fix at home.
Now, she along with other Greater Clark County Schools cafeteria managers and employees are learning how to make that for the student lunch line.
This all comes after the district decided to outsource management of the food services department to Aramark, which has said it can increase nutritional value as well as the choices of foods and student participation in lunch.
The move is to create a surplus of $501,000 each year in addition to saving about $243,000 on purchasing, according to the agreement. Marty Bell, chief operating officer for GCCS, said the district will pay $84,000 a year for Aramark’s services.
Mann, who is a floating cafeteria manager, said so far, she’s in favor of the changes.
“I think it’s a good thing. We serve the same thing over and over again and I like the menus I’ve seen,” she said, adding that there’s more fresh fruit and vegetables. “I think it’s more beneficial for the kids.”
All cafeteria managers plus one more employee from each of the district’s schools came to Jeffersonville High School this week to learn more about not only the new recipes, but how to prepare fresh fruits and vegetables, kitchen safety, food safety and more.
Tia McDonald, program development chef with Aramark, said she has tested and created many of the recipes that will be used in the schools. Some of the changes will be making more things in-house, such as pizza from scratch versus ordering delivery from a pizza chain. McDonald said that allows the cooks more control over the nutritional value of foods.
"It only makes sense that we take a back-to-the-basics approach when it comes to cooking,” she said, adding that will help cut back on fat, calories and sodium in foods. “There’s a learning curve to it, but it’s a positive one.”
Many food service workers said they are up for the challenge.
“I’m ready for change. If they want to change, I’m for it as long as we have the equipment and food we need,” said Lula Jones, cafeteria manager at New Washington Elementary. “I’m always ready to learn.”
Aramark’s Scott Williams, the new food service director for GCCS, said school cafeterias will be equipped with the tools needed to be able to prepare fresh foods quickly. He said there will also be training like there was this week to make sure everyone knows how to use the tools.
“I think there’s a great opportunity to increase [student] participation [in buying school lunch],” Williams said. “It will also increase the wellness of the foods.”
He said nutritional value of the foods will be analyzed weekly, versus just making sure a certain number of food pyramid items are being offered as it was before.
Now, it’s about getting the cafeteria employees not only trained, but on board with the idea.
“Some of them are still nervous on how it’s going to go, but I think most of them are warming up to it,” Williams said.
McDonald said the changes will not only be beneficial to students, but workers as well.
“It also gives the cooks not only a different skill set, but they’ll be filled with pride that I made this,” she said.
But for now, it’s getting to that point.
“Overwhelmed. It’s lots of learning,” said Bridgepoint Elementary’s cafeteria manager Peggy Rinn as she sat through training Tuesday. “We’re going to have to cut up our own melons and fresh vegetables. It’s all new. Very new.”
However, she said she likes the idea behind getting kids more nutrients.
“I think the kids need that,” she said, adding that she hopes they will eat the foods and not opt to skip lunch instead.
Recent Local News
Related Photos
-
Tia McDonald, program development chef with Aramark, worked in the cafeteria at Jeffersonville High School this week, and trained cafeteria workers from the middle and elementary schools, as Greater Clark County Schools transitions to Aramark's management of the food services department. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
-
Some of the changes will be making more things in-house, such as pizza from scratch versus ordering delivery from a pizza chain. Staff photo by C.E. branham
Discussion
Lessons in the kitchen: GCCS cafeteria employees and managers get trained on new recipes, safety standards
- Recent Local News
-
-
Greenville town manager hired, incensing silenced crowd
Richardson threatened to have the town marshal clear the gym, but decided against it.
“I am asking people out there to stay out of it. This has nothing to do with you. You elected us to represent you.”
But that only go the crowd more incensed.
“You ought to be run out of town Talbotte,” yelled one resident. -
Half of Jeffersonville Fire Department overtime budget already gone
During the closing moments of the meeting Councilman Matt Owen said he was shocked by Mayor Moore’s plans and comments pertaining to two Jeffersonville Parks and Recreation Department matters reported in the News and Tribune during the last week.
-
Charlestown resident makes appeal for filtration plant
“I understand that manganese is a secondary contaminant and it’s not something that’s necessarily harmful to health,” Burchett said. “I would much prefer that the water that comes into my home have as little manganese in it as possible, as well as anything else. I just want water.”
-
New Albany council opposes two low-income developments
Councilman Greg Phipps said the measure was changed because there could be “some legal issues” with the way it was originally written. He said regardless, such a resolution that targets low-income developments intimates underlying stereotypes to the community even if it’s not the intention of those who supported the measure.
- News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 7, 2012
-
Students get time out for good behavior
-
Student sues to wear breast cancer bracelet
An Indiana eighth-grader sued his school district in federal court Monday for the right to wear a bracelet promoting breast cancer awareness with the message “I (heart) Boobies.”
-
New Albany house destroyed by fire
The fire department arrived within six minutes, but the fire had already made its way out of the garage and across the attic. The homeowners heard explosions from the garage area.
-
Elderly man robbed outside Jeffersonville bank
The man returned to his car and sat down to close the car door when Williams grabbed the door and reached inside the vehicle, Hollis said.
-
Body found in cave may be missing Georgetown man
Conservation Officer Jeff Milner said they believe it is Eve based on evidence found at the scene.
-
A fair fee? Indiana imposing fees for 4-H participants for the first time
Allen said his hope is the fee being charged by the state and the county will be enough to cover costs and that 4-H members will not be asked to cover any more expenses.
“They have never had to pay a program fee,” Allen said. -
Council considers opposing low-income developments
Councilman John Gonder said he supports a system that would allow the city to cap sewer credits for low-income housing and give preference to the New Albany Housing Authority.
He conceded his wife does sit on the housing authority board, but believes the city should give favor to the entity when it comes to low-income lodging because it has to meet federal guidelines. - News and Tribune briefs for Feb. 6, 2012
-
New Albany ‘in the process of deciding’ riverfront schedule
Several parties have expressed interest in helping with planning events and Gahan said “I want to encourage” an inclusive group to manage the program. He added his administration wants to press for more shows at the downtown farmers’ market stage off Market Street as well.
-
What a woman: Runaway slave turned Civil War nurse memorialized with Carnegie exhibit
- More Recent Local News Headlines
-
