SMETHPORT — In a report to the Smethport Area School Board Monday, Superintendent David London presented encouraging news about the district’s food service program at the elementary and high schools.
“In the last year, we have made lots of changes in our cafeteria operations, and we’re monitoring them,” London said.
Thanks in large part to grants the last several years and the hiring of a professional food service management company, the district has recorded increases in many categories of the school nutrition programs, London noted. The Nutrition Group officially began its work this year after being consultants since last fall.
With the increased number of meals, there has been improved revenue for the district. For example, reimbursable breakfasts at the elementary school from October 2017 to October 2018 showed a gain of 826. For the period of April 2018 to October 2018, the increase was 991 meals.
However, there was a decrease in the total lunches at the elementary school from April 2018 to October 2018, but this was partially attributed to decreased enrollment.
At the high school, the breakfast program started in 2017. From October 2017 to October 2018, reimbursable breakfasts showed an increase of 576. From April 2018 to October 18, this same category grew by 360 meals.
The district has received several grants for its nutrition program. One of them, No Kid Hungry, builds partnerships with prominent individuals in working toward the goal of connecting children in need of school breakfasts and summer meals, while teaching eligible families to prepare healthy, affordable meals.
In addition, the district has received funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Breakfast Grant program.
Summing up this report, London said, “We’re pretty pleased with our cafeteria staff, and it’s showing up in the results.”
According to London, the renovation project at the two schools is almost finished. The contractor is now working to correct a heating unit problem in the special education offices.
In other news, the directors approved utilizing the Crosby and Mount Jewett baseball fields for practices and games this spring, due to renovations being done at the Smethport field by borough employees.
Baseball Coach Colby Austin said there are verbal commitments from representatives of both fields, but there is nothing in writing now.
“We hoped to begin this work of replacing the old sod last fall, but the rainy weather prevented it,” District Supervisor and Smethport Borough Council president, Greg Rounsville said. “Two weeks of dry conditions are needed for work to begin. Once it’s started, the project could take a week.”
In another vote, directors tabled a motion to OK a Satellite Delivery Site agreement with the Rural Regional College of Northern Pennsylvania in order to provide the school district as a site for university course delivery and course examinations to provide affordable, accessible education to residents of the region. The directors cited the need for further consideration.
School l Director Ray Learn, an attorney, said that while he favors the rural regional college, the agreement in its present form lacks some basic terms before the district can agree to it.
By an 8-0 vote – Vice-President Bill Funk conducted the meeting in the absence of President Larry Dennis – the board renewed Superintendent London’s contract for five years, effective July 1, 2019, through June 20, 2024.
