Final Mendocino County Grand Jury 2017-18 Mendocino County School Nutrition Programs

F1

Federal and state reimbursements do not cover Mendocino County school district food program costs, thereby imposing a financial burden on school district budgets.

Related Recommendations (2)

R1

Mendocino County Office of Education hire a full-time Nutrition Services Director who is a registered dietician to assist all 11 county school districts in reducing costs and improving the quality of service to children. (F1, F2, F5, F7, F8, F12-15)

R5

All school districts provide application forms for free or reduced-cost meals at the beginning of each school year or when the student is enrolled. (F1, F2, F9, F14)

F2

While in most Mendocino County school districts more than 60% of students are eligible for free or reduced-cost meals, revenue is lost because approximately 20-50% of eligible children do not take advantage of free or reduced-cost meals.

Related Recommendations (3)

R1

Mendocino County Office of Education hire a full-time Nutrition Services Director who is a registered dietician to assist all 11 county school districts in reducing costs and improving the quality of service to children. (F1, F2, F5, F7, F8, F12-15)

R4

All school districts enable meal site supervisors to meet on a regular basis to share best meal preparation and staff practices. (F2-5, F11-14)

R5

All school districts provide application forms for free or reduced-cost meals at the beginning of each school year or when the student is enrolled. (F1, F2, F9, F14)

F3

Food managers would prefer to prepare more meals made from scratch and use locally produced food, but are concerned with additional time and costs.

Related Recommendations (1)

R4

All school districts enable meal site supervisors to meet on a regular basis to share best meal preparation and staff practices. (F2-5, F11-14)

F4

All districts observed would benefit from extra staff or hours for their food service employees.

Related Recommendations (1)

R4

All school districts enable meal site supervisors to meet on a regular basis to share best meal preparation and staff practices. (F2-5, F11-14)

F5

In smaller school districts, food managers who cook as well as manage are overburdened with additional administrative California State required record keeping.

Related Recommendations (2)

R1

Mendocino County Office of Education hire a full-time Nutrition Services Director who is a registered dietician to assist all 11 county school districts in reducing costs and improving the quality of service to children. (F1, F2, F5, F7, F8, F12-15)

R4

All school districts enable meal site supervisors to meet on a regular basis to share best meal preparation and staff practices. (F2-5, F11-14)

F6

Schools use disposable serving trays and utensils instead of paying additional labor costs to wash reusable trays and utensils.

Related Recommendations (1)

R6

To prevent waste, school districts instruct the students in the proper handling of reusable tableware and disposal of trash and recyclables. (F6, F8, F10, F11) RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are required from the following boards:  Mendocino County Office of Education Board of Directors (All findings, all recommendations)  Anderson Valley Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Fort Bragg Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Round Valley Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Willits Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations) The boards indicated above should be aware that their comments or responses must be conducted subject to the notice, agenda, and open meeting requirements of the Brown Act. Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are required from the following individual:  Mendocino County Office of Education Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations) Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are requested from the following individual(s):  Anderson Valley Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations) 10  Fort Bragg Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Round Valley Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Ukiah Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Willits Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)

F7

The grand jury is concerned that there is no registered or certified dietitian employed for the county’s meal programs.

Related Recommendations (1)

R1

Mendocino County Office of Education hire a full-time Nutrition Services Director who is a registered dietician to assist all 11 county school districts in reducing costs and improving the quality of service to children. (F1, F2, F5, F7, F8, F12-15)

F8

There is a paucity of oversight and guidance for the county’s school nutrition programs.

Related Recommendations (2)

R1

Mendocino County Office of Education hire a full-time Nutrition Services Director who is a registered dietician to assist all 11 county school districts in reducing costs and improving the quality of service to children. (F1, F2, F5, F7, F8, F12-15)

R6

To prevent waste, school districts instruct the students in the proper handling of reusable tableware and disposal of trash and recyclables. (F6, F8, F10, F11) RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are required from the following boards:  Mendocino County Office of Education Board of Directors (All findings, all recommendations)  Anderson Valley Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Fort Bragg Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Round Valley Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Willits Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations) The boards indicated above should be aware that their comments or responses must be conducted subject to the notice, agenda, and open meeting requirements of the Brown Act. Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are required from the following individual:  Mendocino County Office of Education Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations) Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are requested from the following individual(s):  Anderson Valley Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations) 10  Fort Bragg Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Round Valley Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Ukiah Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Willits Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)

F9

Getting parents to pay for meals is a major problem in many school districts.

Related Recommendations (1)

R5

All school districts provide application forms for free or reduced-cost meals at the beginning of each school year or when the student is enrolled. (F1, F2, F9, F14)

F10

Trash generation and litter from food service paper and plastic is an area of concern.

Related Recommendations (1)

R6

To prevent waste, school districts instruct the students in the proper handling of reusable tableware and disposal of trash and recyclables. (F6, F8, F10, F11) RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are required from the following boards:  Mendocino County Office of Education Board of Directors (All findings, all recommendations)  Anderson Valley Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Fort Bragg Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Round Valley Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Willits Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations) The boards indicated above should be aware that their comments or responses must be conducted subject to the notice, agenda, and open meeting requirements of the Brown Act. Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are required from the following individual:  Mendocino County Office of Education Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations) Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are requested from the following individual(s):  Anderson Valley Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations) 10  Fort Bragg Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Round Valley Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Ukiah Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Willits Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)

F11

Students are throwing away reusable food service dishes and utensils.

Related Recommendations (2)

R4

All school districts enable meal site supervisors to meet on a regular basis to share best meal preparation and staff practices. (F2-5, F11-14)

R6

To prevent waste, school districts instruct the students in the proper handling of reusable tableware and disposal of trash and recyclables. (F6, F8, F10, F11) RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are required from the following boards:  Mendocino County Office of Education Board of Directors (All findings, all recommendations)  Anderson Valley Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Fort Bragg Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Round Valley Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations)  Willits Unified School District School Board of Trustees (All findings, all recommendations) The boards indicated above should be aware that their comments or responses must be conducted subject to the notice, agenda, and open meeting requirements of the Brown Act. Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are required from the following individual:  Mendocino County Office of Education Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations) Pursuant to Penal Code §933.05, responses are requested from the following individual(s):  Anderson Valley Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations) 10  Fort Bragg Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Round Valley Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Ukiah Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)  Willits Unified School District Superintendent (All findings, all recommendations)

F12

Food service job descriptions in small districts include duties that require more time than allotted or funded.

Related Recommendations (2)

R1

Mendocino County Office of Education hire a full-time Nutrition Services Director who is a registered dietician to assist all 11 county school districts in reducing costs and improving the quality of service to children. (F1, F2, F5, F7, F8, F12-15)

R4

All school districts enable meal site supervisors to meet on a regular basis to share best meal preparation and staff practices. (F2-5, F11-14)

F13

Ongoing computer training for food service managers is lacking in most school districts.

Related Recommendations (3)

R1

Mendocino County Office of Education hire a full-time Nutrition Services Director who is a registered dietician to assist all 11 county school districts in reducing costs and improving the quality of service to children. (F1, F2, F5, F7, F8, F12-15)

R3

School districts provide ongoing computer training for meal site managers and staff. (F13,

R4

All school districts enable meal site supervisors to meet on a regular basis to share best meal preparation and staff practices. (F2-5, F11-14)

F14

State inspectors found errors in procedures resulting in major loss of funds from school district food programs.

Related Recommendations (4)

R1

Mendocino County Office of Education hire a full-time Nutrition Services Director who is a registered dietician to assist all 11 county school districts in reducing costs and improving the quality of service to children. (F1, F2, F5, F7, F8, F12-15)

R2

Meal program supervisors regularly inspect satellite sites for program compliance. (F4, F5,

R4

All school districts enable meal site supervisors to meet on a regular basis to share best meal preparation and staff practices. (F2-5, F11-14)

R5

All school districts provide application forms for free or reduced-cost meals at the beginning of each school year or when the student is enrolled. (F1, F2, F9, F14)

F15

The addition of a MCOE dietician who could review procedures with food service staff might prevent negative evaluations from the state. 9

Related Recommendations (1)

R1

Mendocino County Office of Education hire a full-time Nutrition Services Director who is a registered dietician to assist all 11 county school districts in reducing costs and improving the quality of service to children. (F1, F2, F5, F7, F8, F12-15)

Final Mendocino County Grand Jury 2017-18 Mendocino County School Nutrition Programs

Findings and Recommendations 15 findings

No Responses Found 4