Summer lunch program to be offered - Central Oregonian

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Ramona McCallister

Crook County School District is looking to once again offer summer meals, but this time as a shared-service option with Redmond School District.

According to Diana Rice, CCSD business office secretary, the program will be headed by Leanne Kaiser of Redmond School District. The CCSD has budgeted for a .2 FTE position for a food service manager in their food services budget. In addition to offering the summer meals program, the position will help provide services throughout the school year, as well.

“It’s in the form of a shared services agreement with Redmond School District,” said Rice.

The school district has offered summer lunch programs in the past, with 2007 being the last time they were offered.

“It did not break even, and so we discontinued the program. She added that the program wasn’t breaking even due to lack of participation.

She said that this time, Kaiser has some different ideas to put into place.

The summer Food Service Program is offered through the Department of Agriculture, and will be available beginning June 18. The acceptance and participation requirements for the program and activities are the same for all students, and there will be a total of five sites. These sites include Crooked River Elementary, Cecil Sly Elementary, Ochoco Elementary, Crook County Parks and Recreation (at the swimming pool), and Ridgeway Commons.

“One of the new sites that they are going to do is at the Ridgeview Commons,” said Rice. She explained that there is a large commons for the participants. “That will improve the participation.”

Ochoco will be a walk-in site. She said that they coordinate this with the summer migrant program. She said that they have tried to make it more accessible for both Crooked River and Ochoco Elementary. Cecil Sly will be an open site, because of the Kids Club in the summer. The last site will be in the covered area by the swimming pool.

Rice said that there is a grant that they have applied for to provide small refrigerators for the sites.

“We are coordinating with volunteers through the coalition with Brenda Comini, and it is more of a community effort this time.”

Mark Murray, Business Consultant for CCSD, said that the program — both the summer meals, and the added position — should be a good financial move for the district.

“It should really improve things, both financially and the food itself.”

The summer food service program begins on June 18.

The sites include:

Crooked River Elementary, 641 N.E. First St.: July 9 through Aug. 2, Mondays through Thursdays, 11:30-11:45 a.m.

Cecil Sly Elementary, 1400 S.E. Second St.: June 18 through Aug. 24 (No July 4), 11:30-11:45 a.m.

Ridgeview Commons, 449 N.E. Ridgeview Court: June 18 though Aug. 24 (No July 4), 11:45 a.m.-noon.

Ochoco Elementary, 440 N.W. Madras Highway: June 18 through Aug. 24, noon-12:15 p.m.

Crook County Parks and Recreation, 399 N.E. Garner: June 18 through Aug. 24, 1-1:15 p.m.

For more information call 541-447-5664.