Published: May 14, 2009 10:25 am      

Food service workers recognized

Napoleon is credited with saying that “an army marches on its stomach,” and educators agree that hungry children will not learn to their potential.

The often unsung heroes of the day are the dedicated staff of the Child Nutrition Department. San Marcos CISD joined schools across the nation last week to thank those who make breakfast and lunches possible to many community children.

School nutrition employees must balance many roles and follow numerous federal, state and local regulations to ensure safe and healthy meals are available in schools.

They are trained sanitation and food safety experts who must also manage financial programs. School nutrition professionals provide nutrition education to students and parents, as well as healthy catering services to their communities.

SMCISD Associate Director of Child Nutrition Mike Boone says, “We try to use our creativity to make the cafeteria a fun and welcoming place all year long, and our staff performs their jobs each day because they care about the children they serve.”

According to the non-profit School Nutrition Association, the importance and nutritional value of school meals is well documented.

Their Web site says, “For many children, school lunch is the most important and nutrient-rich meal of their day. Children depend upon school lunch for a third to half of their daily nutritional intake.” The U.S. Government Accountability Office found that “school meals are healthy, and children who eat school meals consume more fruit, vegetables, whole grains and dairy items than children who do not eat school meals.”

According to Boone, San Marcos CISD food services:

• Provides 1,001,937 lunches in one year

• Provides 365,418 breakfasts in a year

• Has a Child Nutrition budget of $3,209,076 with $2,065,398 in federal reimbursements and $189,901 in USDA commodities.

• Has a total staff of 76 persons.

The functions of the Child Nutrition Department include: National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, Summer Food Feeding Program, USDA Commodity Program, After School Snack Program, Special Events catering, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point, Health and Safety Code and School Wellness Policy.

Boone's administrative staff consists of Assistant Director Melba Perez, Compliance & Production Supervisor Tony Mendoza, Secretary Christina Tovar and Accountability Systems Clerk Maribel Rivas. The warehouse staff are Andy Lerma and Gilbert Pavia.

Cafeteria Managers include: Alice Rodriguez (SMHS), Araceli Mireles (Goodnight), Yolanda Perez (Miller), Eufrasia Vijarro (Hernandez), Julie Cruz (Travis), Annette Navarro (De Zavala), Blanca Rodriguez (Crockett), Susie Puentes (Bowie), Nancy Lucio (Bonham) and Assistant Manager Lucy Martinez (Pathfinder).