Capping almost 18 months of research and discussion about the benefits and costs of expanding the program to our younger learners, the District 64 Board of Education at its April 24, 2017 meeting approved the extension of the hot lunch program to all elementary schools effective for the 2017-18 school year.
The Board also selected a new food service provider, Quest Food Management Services, to oversee the District's lunch program at the middle schools as well as the five elementary buildings.
The new program will allow District 64 to provide healthy and uniform menus for hot lunch, as well as access and consistent pricing across all schools. It also will reduce the need for parent volunteers, and further enhance not only food safety but overall quality.
The program at the elementary schools will be offered four days per week, with school PTO/As continuing to offer pizza day fundraisers.
In addition, the Board approved about $138,000 to remodel kitchens at the elementary schools to be used to serve food, which will be prepared and delivered from the middle school kitchens.