Food Service introduces themed menus

In an effort to enhance our Food Service program and offer students friendly and age appropriate food items you will see some changes in our menus and offerings beginning in April.

We will be introducing a Burrito/Wrap bar, offering students 3-5 choices to create their own special wrap or burrito.

The following schools will introduce this themed menu: Albany High School, Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School, Philip Livingston Magnet Academy, William S. Hacket Middle School, Albany School of Humanities (ASH), Arbor Hill Elementary School and Giffen Memorial Elementary School. A scaled-down model will be introduced at Satellite Schools in the near future.

Our lunch menus at all levels and all schools will offer two entrees and two sandwich options daily. Students will be entitled to one entrée option, and all of the side options.

Satellite Schools: (Pine Hills Elementary, Delaware Community, School 19, North Albany Academy, Sheridan Preparatory Academy, Schuyler Achievement Academy, Eagle Point Elementary School, Thomas O’Brien Academy of Science and Technology (TOAST), Montessori Magnet School, Adult Learning Center, Abrookin Vocational-Technical Center and Harriet Gibbons High School). It will become more critical for lunch counts to be communicated to Philip Livingston Magnet Academy’s central kitchen in a timely manner (by 9:30 a.m.) to ensure accurate daily production.

As the weather continues to get warmer we will serve chicken Caesar salads and chef’s salads with either a meat and cheese or yogurt option.

Facility Schools: (Arbor Hill, ASH, Albany High, Giffen, Myers, Hackett, Philip Livingston)

• Will offer two salad options daily

• Will offer two hot entrée options daily

• Will offer two cold sandwich/sub options daily

• Will offer more fresh fruits and vegetables

Albany High School: We are in the process of developing themed menus for two of the four serving lines. This process should be completed by September 2008. It will be a gradual change with smaller steps happening now and continuing to evolve for high school students as we conclude this school year.

Breakfast: Satellite Schools

• Will offer warm bagels with cream cheese and jelly daily

• Our facilities are limited, so offering hot meals at breakfast is not possible at this time

• We are researching new options for breakfast for the fall of 2008

Breakfast: Facility Schools

• Will offer a hot breakfast entrée every day

• Will offer cereal option daily

Please understand this is a work in progress there will be bumps in the road as we move forward. Food Service staff are in the process of being retrained in customer service, meal components and marketing, all in an effort to have 100 percent customer satisfaction.

We are always open to suggestions, comments or concerns and try to address or correct issues quickly, so your feedback is important.

When we have a menu change it is due to delivery or availability of products. Most times these are out of our control, but we strive to follow the printed menu. One step we are taking to try and control this concern is that starting in April, menus will be developed and published two weeks at a time.

For example, the first menu for April will cover April 1-11 and will take us up to Spring Recess. Prior to Spring Recess the second part of the April menu will be published, covering the rest of the month.

School Lunch Mission Statement:

“Quality nutrition, quality service and quality food, creates healthy strong students”

We are committed to providing these services.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Director of Food Services J.W. Gayle at 462-7322.