School Food Services: Purpose and Facilities

The Board of Education (Board) recognizes that students require adequate, nourishing food and beverages in order to grow, learn and maintain good health. It is the intent of the Board that Hamden schools take a proactive effort to encourage students to make nutritious food choices. The Board directs that students shall be provided with adequate space and time to eat meals during the school day. 

Hamden Public Schools shall offer meals to all students without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expressions, ancestry, national origin, marital status, pregnancy, or disability. 

The Board shall provide food service for school breakfasts and for school lunches that meets the nutritional standards required by state and federal school breakfast and lunch programs. Hamden's SBP, NSLP, and SMP will operate to meet dietary specifications in accordance with the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and applicable state laws and regulations. 

This service shall be under the supervision of the Food Service Director who shall be responsible to the Business Manager. The Food Service Director shall be hired under specific job specifications and approved by the Board of Education. 

Aims 

Policies governing the operation of the school lunch program shall be: 

1. To provide cafeteria facilities in all new schools and in other schools wherever practicable.
2. To provide wherever cafeteria facilities exist nutritionally balanced and attractive lunches available to all students with sufficient time allowed for eating. Varied and nutritious food choices shall be sold or served consistent with applicable federal government Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
3. To provide lunches free or at reduced rates to children whose economic or health needs require such action, with the approval of the Superintendent of Schools on recommendation of the Principal and school nurse.

Facilities 

Cafeteria facilities, wherever possible, shall include the following:

1. Attractive, well-ventilated dining rooms.
2. A carefully planned, well-equipped kitchen adjacent to each dining area.
3. Adequate storage space so that food and supplies may be purchased in sufficient quantity to take advantage of favorable market conditions.
4. Maintenance, inspection and repair of equipment so that maximum use is obtained and danger of accidents to personnel is minimized.

Maintenance of Sanitary Conditions 

Sanitary renditions in all phases of the preparation and serving of food shall be rigidly maintained at all times. 

The Food Service Director shall be responsible for the education of all food handlers as to personal hygiene and techniques of sanitation. 

All cafeteria workers shall be required to have a physical examination at the time of employment and periodically as requested by the school medical advisor. 

Financing 

The school lunch program shall be financed as follows: 

1. Prices of school lunches shall be determined by the Superintendent in accordance with all prevailing costs of food, supplies, supervision costs, and wages of hourly workers.
2. Costs of food, supplies, salaries and wages of all employees, and other expenses directly incurred in the school lunch program shall be paid out of a separate fund, which shall be maintained under the control of the Business Manager or his/her designee and into which all receipts from sales and federal cash grants shall be paid. This fund shall be subject to annual audit by the district auditor. In compliance with federal law, the District's NSLP and SBP shall be non-profit
3. Office facilities, equipment, heat, light and power shall be paid out of funds appropriated by the Board of Education.
4. Although the Board believes that the District•s nutrition and food services operation should be financially self:.supporting, it recognizes, however, that the nutrition program is an essential educational and support activity. Therefore, budget neutrality or profit generation must not take precedence over the nutrition needs of the students.

Farm to School Program 

Any bid submitted by a service management company in response to a request fur proposal (RFP) or bid solicitation by the Board that is posted to the state Portal and that relates to the Board's school nutrition program shall include information detailing the consistency of such bid with the State's Farm to School Program and the ways in which such bid facilitates the purchase of products from local farmers by the Board. All other factors being equal, the Board shall give preference to the RFP or bid that promotes the purchase of local farm products. 

(cf. 3542.31 Participation in the Nutritional School Lunch Program) 
(cf. 3542.33 Food Sales Other Than National School Lunch Program) 
(cf. 3542.43 Charging Policy) 
(cf. 6142.101 Student Nutrition and Physical Wel lness, School Wellness) 

 

Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes 

10-215 Lunches, breakfasts and other feeding programs for public school children and employees.

10-215a Nonpublic school and nonprofit agency participation in feeding programs.

10-215b Duties of State Board of Education re feeding programs.

10-216 Payment of expenses.

State Board of Education Regulations

 

Policy Adopted: March 12, 2003

Policy Revised: November 15, 2016