Who is supplying the food?
Currently, three local vendors have been granted a license to operate as a commissary: Capriccio II, Franki's Grill and Nine Dragons. Other food options will become available as other vendors are granted licenses from the Westchester County Department of Health.
How can payment for food be made?
The Croton-Harmon UFSD is excited to offer
MySchoolBucks
®! This online payment service is now available and provides a quick and easy way to add money to your student's meal account using a credit/debit card or electronic check. You can also view recent purchases, check balances, and set-up low balance alerts. Payment can also be made in cash.
Why are the lunch costs higher than neighboring districts?
Since we are not able to provide a federally subsidized program like other neighboring districts, our program is striving to be self sustaining, as it balances offering a meal for students in need, containing costs and offering a nutritious meal. Additionally, since the district does not have a kitchen, we are selling
food prepared by outside vendors.
How is the food stored?
Cold food is refrigerated while hot food is
kept warm in a "heat and hold" unit. Temperature logs are kept by both the vendor and by the district to ensure food safety.
What safety (and other) training have food service workers completed?
Aramark, a national food service provider, has been hired by the district to help us implement and operate a lunch program at the high school. Aramark is training our staff in how to maintain temperature logs to ensure that the food is the proper temperature as well as other safety measures.
What safety measures are in place with regard to food-borne allergies?
Known food allergies are recorded in the student information system which has been downloaded into the point-of-sale software. As long as the students use their pin numbers, any allergies provided to the district will show up under the student profile.
Are gluten-free or vegetarian options available?
Currently, there are no specific gluten-free or vegetarian menus. However, there are menu options that a student following a vegetarian or gluten-free diet may be able to choose. Currently salad is available daily.
What steps are being taken to offer more nutritional options?
This is definitely part of the long-term plan. As more commissaries are added to our list, we will be able to shape the menu differently.
What is the next step for the school lunch program?
The Board of Education will continue to review feedback on the lunch program at the high school, as well as continue to discuss ways to offer the most nutritious meals possible at affordable prices. Throughout the school year, and as we prepare the budget for next year, the Board will weigh all of the options available to make sure we are creating a lunch program that supports the needs of our students.
Is there any intention to expand the program to the other schools?
A final decision has not been made yet, however, since many of the problems that we're facing at the high school are also issues at the middle and elementary schools, we will be exploring an expansion of the program to PVC and CET.
I have heard that the Lunch Committee made recommendations, what were they, and what does it mean?
The Lunch Committee made six recommendations for the Board to consider.
Please see the Lunch Committee's presentation, including its recommendations.
The Board will discuss these recommendations in an effort to determine what is the best approach for our district. The Board may agree with some or all of the recommendations or may take additional steps that are not a part of the recommendations.
Resources available for more information
