Food Services Advisory Group

Purpose: 

• Recommend a progressive vision for Bellingham Public Schools’ Food Services program that delivers on The Bellingham Promise’s desired outcome of students who are healthy, active individuals.
• The vision should reflect our community values, help define what “healthy” food means to our program, be based on best practices nationally in food service programs, and be sustainable.
• The vision will be equally accessible to all students.
• The vision will be used to guide the future food services program and the design of the central kitchen facility.

Basis for Establishment:

• In November 2013, voters approved a bond that includes building a central kitchen for Bellingham Public Schools on the Sehome High School site. The rationale for a central kitchen was to move from a heat-and-serve food preparation model to a kitchen that prepares and cooks meals. Building this new facility provides an opportunity to design a kitchen that can support our vision for a food program and accommodate the desired ingredients, food preparation equipment, and storage needed to support this vision.

Decision-Making Process:

• Work collaboratively and use consensus-building methods to prepare a written recommendation to Superintendent Greg Baker.

Plan of Work:

• Use The Bellingham Promise and Farm-to-School Promise as discussed with the partner group on September 29, 2015, as springboards to start conversation on the district’s food program vision.
• Research and review national best practices and participate, as feasible, through site visits and reviewing other material.
• Receive feedback from focus groups held to solicit input from students, families, community and staff on the food program vision.
• Draft a working vision for the food service program based on feedback from the site visit team and focus groups.
• Share draft vision with Lunch Lessons thought partner and community in November for feedback.
• By winter break in December: Submit recommended vision to Dr. Baker.

Members Regular:

• Jozlin Peterson, High School Student
• Patrick Warner, Wade King Elementary Parent
• Brianne Pugh, Kulshan Middle School Parent
• Rob Rienstra, Bellingham High School Parent
• Mardi Solomon, Farm-to-School Representative
• Laura Plaut, Farm-to-School Representative
• Sue Webber, Whatcom Community Foundation Representative
• Sara Southerland, Community Group Representative
• Elizabeth van Niekerk, Food Services Staff Member
• Mea Tyas, Food Services Staff Member
• Nichole Lockhart, Bellingham High School Teacher
• Mylo Allen, Parkview Elementary School Principal
• Mark Dalton, Director of Food Services
• Heidi Rodriguez,  Assistant Director of Food Services
• Margaret Gude, Communications and Community Relations Representative
• Nora Klewiada, Executive Director of Human Resources
• Anda Adams and Rob McElroy, Department of Teaching and Learning Representatives
• Co-chairs Assistant Superintendent Simone Sangster and Director of Wellness Jessica Sankey, as available
• J.Marie Riche, Facilitator

Responsibilities: 

• Attend all meetings and work collaboratively.

Timeline:

Advisory Group:
Introductory Meeting. 3-5 p.m. Thursday, October 22, 2015 Central Services Room 205; Meeting Notes

Work meeting to develop working vision. 12-5 p.m. Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at the WECU Education Center 511 East Holly St. Receive input from the stakeholder meeting, site visit team, and focus groups; Meeting Notes

Review feedback and provide recommendation on food service vision. 3-5 p.m. Thursday, December 10, 2015 Central Services Room 205: Meeting Notes

Other components of process:

• Current stakeholder meeting – September 29, 2015
• Focus Group meetings – October 2015
• Site visits – October 12-15, 2015

Release of draft vision for Lunch Lessons Visit (November 9-21, 2015) and for public feedback.

Evening forum with Chef Ann – January 26, 2016 7 p.m. Mount Baker Theatre

• Reminder: Chef Ann at Mt. Baker Tonight, Jan. 26, 2016
• Revolutionizing the Way We Think About School Lunch, Jan. 19, 2016

 

Related Files:
Bellingham Farm-to-School Promise

Farm-to-School Priorities

Berkeley Chalkboard

Site Visits Report

Focus Groups Report

Draft Vision Feedback

Food Services Advisory Group Final Report

 

Budget Implications:

• Cost of proposal:
  • Current stakeholder meeting and focus groups – staff time (communications and food services), possibly custodial time for sites.
  • Site visit cost – supported by the Whatcom Community Foundation.
  • Advisory group – staff time and some substitute or extra time for food services staff.
  • Forum in November – supported by Whatcom Community Foundation.
• Cost of food service program will likely change as a result of the vision.

 

Other: 

• This vision will feed into the food services assessment that will be done by Lunch Lessons, a thought partner with Bellingham Public Schools.
• The vision and the assessment by Lunch Lessons will be used by the specifications team that develops the building design for the new central kitchen.