| • Five years ago, the Student Nutrition Department included 18 school Cafeterias, 6 Snack Bar units, and a catering department. We now have 22 school Cafeterias and 7 Snack Bar units. In addition, we now operate the Concession Stands at the Galena Park ISD Stadium. We have also built and are operating a test kitchen in the Administration Building which offers affordable dining services to district staff and complete catering services.
• Five years ago, we were serving about 10,700 reimbursable lunch meals each day and about 5,000 breakfast meals each day. Meal services to GPISD students and staff have increased 30% overall from five years ago. Breakfast meals have increased 22% (6100 breakfasts) and lunch meals have increased by 33% (14,230 reimbursable lunches)!
• Our remarkable growth in meal service levels has allowed us to invest in much-needed facility improvements for the department. Walk-In freezers and coolers have been installed and old equipment has been replaced with new equipment. As a result of the bond project and Student Nutrition funding, walk-in freezers are in place in all school cafeterias and many new serving lines have been installed.
• The Student Nutrition Department has been paying its share of all utility bills, insurance costs and equipment parts since the 2000-2001 school year. We are also still completely funding all fringe benefits and personnel expenses for our department. The department has maintained its financial autonomy and accumulated the maximum fund balance allowed by law without increasing meal prices for nine years or requiring a district subsidy!
• In the last 2 years, the Student Nutrition Department has expanded its computerized meal accountability point of sale system to all snack bars as well as cafeterias now. GPISD students can now purchase a reimbursable meal in several snack bar locations as well as a-la-carte items.
• Five years ago, the Student Nutrition Department began implementation of the USDA After-School Snack Program. As a result, we have been able to offer nutritious snacks free of charge to after school programs for the last five years.
• This year we enhanced our services to GPISD parents by implementing an on-line payment option for cafeteria and snack bar meals.
• The Student Nutrition Department has undergone both a TEA and a State Comptroller audit very successfully and without penalty.
• Five years ago, we implemented a NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION PROGRAM which has proven to be very successful in providing better qualified and longer lasting substitute employees for our department.
• Student Nutrition staff have been encouraged by our education incentive plan to continue attending classes and have reached an all time high level of certification.
• Since the 2000 school year, Student Nutrition staff have won numerous awards and scholarships at the state and national level for Nutrition Education, meal service levels, and continuing education.
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