The School Nutrition Services Department of Chesapeake Public Schools provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to more than 18,000 students and breakfasts to more than 4,000 students each school day through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch and National School Breakfast Programs.  In 1998, Congress expanded the National School Lunch Program to include assistance for snacks served to children in after school educational and enrichment programs.  Last school year, over 9,400 snacks to students participating in these after school programs.

School meals must meet the recommendations of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans for the appropriate age group.  School lunch provides approximately one-third of the daily nutrition needs for children and school breakfast provides approximately one-fourth.  Regulations establish standards for fat, saturated fat, protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, iron, calcium and calories.  Although meals must meet Federal nutrition requirements, school divisions make decisions about what specific foods to serve and how they are prepared.

The National School Lunch Act in 1946 created the modern school lunch program.  Schools across this nation serve more than 25.4 million children each day.  The federal laws regulating the school food service programs today are administered under the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) through the Virginia Department of Education.  The program has the objective of improving the health of students by providing good, nutritious foods that students will enjoy eating at a price that all students can afford.  Another goal is to encourage and promote nutrition education. 

We encourage you to discover school meals and invite you to contact our department’s key staff members with your comments or questions at 547-1470 or by e-mail.

 
  • Self supporting, no budgeted funding from Chesapeake Public Schools general fund
  • $10 million operating budget
  • Over $ 4.2 million received from federal and state reimbursement for meals
  • 400+ employees
  • 47 sites serving an average of over 4000 breakfasts, 18,000 lunches daily & 3,900 after school snacks
  • Over 715,000 student breakfasts, 3.2 million students lunches served last year
  • 9,127 students eligible for FREE or REDUCED meals
  • Meal prices - Breakfast: $1.00, Lunch: elementary/intermediate $1.80, middle/high $1.90
  • Computerized point-of-sale accountability program (CAFS) provides meal sales data, student eligibility and prepayment options and nutrient analysis of menu items selected by students at 30 schools. The remaining 16 schools will be have CAFS installed this year.
  • Continued improvement to service includes new menu offerings such as as wrap sandwiches, veggie burgers and nachos with chili and cheese.
  • Variety of lunch entrees offered daily - elementary - minimum of 3 choices daily secondary - minimum of 6 choices daily
  • Hot and cold breakfasts offered in 32 schools with yogurt and cereal offered daily
  • Centralized warehousing and distribution system

 

Values
1. Quality Food: A commitment to deliver high quality foods with high nutrient values presented in a tasty, appealing manner.


2. Excellence: Aspiring to always be the best we can be.


3. Respect: Do unto others, as you want them to do unto you.


4. Integrity: A commitment to high moral standards. Being the person you want others to be and always doing the right thing.

5. Dependability: Can be relied upon.

6. Positive Attitude: Displays enthusiasm and a positive outlook.

7. Safety: A commitment to an environment free from injury, harm or fear.

8. Sanitation: Follows proper cooking and handling procedures when preparing all foods to insure wholesomeness.

9. Accountability: Being responsible, credible and trustworthy.

10. Teamwork: A commitment to getting things done through cooperative effort and good communications.

11. Professional Appearance: Always maintain a neat, well-groomed professional appearance and follow the current dress code.

12. Fun: A belief that the workplace should be enjoyable.

Page Last Updated July 16, 2008

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