PAGE COUNTY, Va. (WHSV) – As the college 12 months began in Web page County many dad and mom contacted WHSV to say how upset they have been with the meals served to their youngsters on the primary day of college.
Images sent in by parents confirmed college students acquired carrots, bread, and solar butter as part of a lunch in a plastic bag.
Jenny Jeffries, supervisor of dietary companies for the division, says these bagged meals have been resulting from a current workers scarcity. She says as of Thursday her division is operating with 10 fewer folks than they might have throughout a mean college 12 months.
She says whereas they plan meals all year long, she was made conscious of the staffing scarcity simply three days earlier than the college 12 months began.
“With these staffing points, we went to the meal that had the least quantity of preparation to have the ability to get everybody a meal and be capable to serve it earlier than the early launch on that day,” Jeffries mentioned.
She says over the previous few weeks they’ve been in a position to rent a number of extra palms however are nonetheless in want of assist. On Thursday, Jeffries herself was considered one of three dietary companies staff contained in the Luray Elementary cafeteria.
She says as they proceed to deliver on extra workers, they’re ensuring college students have these wholesome choices for breakfast and lunch.
“We’ve been in a position to provide each a cold and hot entrée in any respect ranges,” Jeffries mentioned. ” Beginning on Monday we’re going to offer three to 4 entre decisions for our college students.”
Jeffries says she realizes some dad and mom acquired meal menus forward of the college 12 months and is now working to solely put up menus as soon as the college division receives its supply truck so that they know what precisely is readily available earlier than it’s made accessible.
The college division can be posting meal menus Fridays after the division is aware of what they’ve in home and might be constant for households.
“We’re additionally another fast prep meals we will provide,” Jeffries mentioned. “We’re seeking to cross-train a few of our different central workplace workers in order that they will bounce in and assist us in order that we’re not in that very same scenario sooner or later.”
Jeffries says all meals at Web page County Colleges meet the federal necessities and are free to all college students this 12 months.
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