School program feeds students

Each day, 650 Sisters students get a square meal at school. Out of these, 206 students get their meals for free or at a reduced cost through a federal school meals program.

The school district's food services program was expanded this year from the elementary school to include the middle school and high school, and five employees were hired to serve in the program.

Janice Comfort, wife of elementary school Principal Tim Comfort, is the food services coordinator for the district.

According to program supervisor, middle school principal Rich Shultz, the expansion means that "about 100 students (in grades) 7-12 have access to free and reduced (cost) lunches that did not have that access last year."

The program's expansion comes at a time when the district is making cutbacks in temporary teaching staff due to a drop in student enrollment.

But school officials point out that the food services program is not part of the general fund, which is where teacher salaries are budgeted. While the program probably won't break even this year, it is almost entirely funded from what students pay for meals or through reimbursement by the federal government.

Janet Cruikshank of the local Educational Services District acknowledged that the program may have a shortfall of about $6,000 this year, which would be made up out of the general fund. But, she noted, that amount is not big enough to impact the hiring or layoff of a teacher.

Cruikshank, who assists the school district in business management, said the program is designed to be entirely self-supporting when it gets up to speed.

The students' meals must meet nutritional guidelines developed by the School Meals Initiative for Healthy Children, a USDA program.

At the middle school, the students choose between four entrees including pizza, burgers, cold deli sandwiches and a "special." They also choose from a variety bar including salad, fruit, bread and vegetables and milk or juice is included - all for $1.75.

Extras are available separately. The schools also offer breakfasts.

As Food Services Coordinator, Janice Comfort oversees menu preparation, ensuring that meals meet nutritional guidelines, administers the free and reduced lunch program, and supervises food service personnel.

She also consults with the students in the middle school's Nutrition Advisory Committee to get their input on menus, and works with culinary arts students who work in the kitchen at the high school.

In responding to inquiries into her hiring, schools superintendent Steve Swisher said that Comfort's husband had no role in the district's decision to hire her.

"There was an open hiring process that was widely advertised," Swisher said. "The elementary school principal was not involved in the hiring and in no way supervises food services."

With experience in school food services ranging from administration to on-line cooking, and a degree as a nutritionist, "(Comfort) was head and shoulders above the competition," Swisher said.

"We were going to hire someone, and we hired the best," he said.

Comfort is supervising a growing program. According to Shultz, the number of students using the school's food services continues to increase.

Currently, about 300 - 70 percent - of the elementary school students, and 150 - 60 percent - of the middle school students eat school meals.

There are 96 students at the elementary school who qualify for free lunches and another 18 who get their meals at a reduced rate. Another 47 at the middle school get a free lunch and 13 eat reduced cost lunches.

The number of participants is lowest at the high school, where an open campus allows students to leave at lunch. Still, half of the 399 students eat the school lunches. Out of these, 21 get free lunches and 11 get reduced cost lunches.

Shultz believes more students may qualify for the free and reduced lunches.

"I encourage parents to contact Janice at 549-3846 if they think they qualify," Shultz said.

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Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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