California Area to serve fresh-baked breads
By Christine Haines Herald-Standard
CALIFORNIA – California Area school officials are hoping fresh-baked breads will entice more students to purchase their lunches next school year.
Food service director Martin Lorenzo is asking the board to consider hiring someone as a part-time cook/baker in order to add homemade breads and buns to the menu. At a cafeteria committee informational meeting this past week, Lorenzo said the move most likely won’t save any money over the cost of purchasing bread products, but it may help attract more students to the lunch program.
Lorenzo said that if the plan is approved by the school board, he will most likely have the new baker trained in the Brownsville Area School District during the summer lunch program.
It’s just one plan Lorenzo has to boost the 40 percent participation rate. Lorenzo said he has been working on ways to get cafeteria lines to move more quickly, including having condiment packets available at the check out instead of having students put them on their food while in line and having desserts pre-portioned. This past school year he also limited ala cart items to one of the two serving lines, allowing students who are getting the standard lunch to get through the line more quickly.
“I’m willing to consider anything that’s cost-effective and good for the program,” Lorenzo said.
Lorenzo said he is also working with the business office to see if it is possible to reduce the price of the school lunches, making up the lost revenues with increased sales.