Dr. Stacey Cole, Superintendent
Storm Lake Community School District
(Transcript) I am Doctor Stacy Cole. I am the superintendent of schools in Storm Lake, Iowa. Years ago, we were getting ready to renew our food service contract. We had lots of companies coming in and they wanted to know what it is that we look for in a food service program. My honest answer is, I know I have the best food service program when I never have to talk about food in the school year. And I know that I have that with Lunchtime because the only time I’m talking about food service is when we’re talking about ways that we’re enhancing the products and the service that our kids and our families get. We’re not talking about poor food quality. We’re not talking about running out of food. We’re not having those conversations.
One of the things that I appreciate the most about Lunchtime Solutions is all the things that they do that I just don’t even have to think about. So I don’t have to think about the budget. I always know that the budget is in line with what we need it to be. I don’t have to think about menus because I know that I have quality menus being developed behind the scenes and I know that the food that’s presented to my kids is good quality food. I don’t have to think about staffing. I know that they’re going to staff it as well as they can. And when they have questions about staff, they’re just going to call me and we’re going to work through whatever questions we have. I don’t have to worry that things are going to go well when I have Lunchtime Solutions behind me, because it’s just always being done behind the scenes.
I feel like their service to my district is very personalized to us. I know they’re working with local growers to find produce and give that to our students in house. I also know that their employees are out in my schools having fun with my kids. Sometimes there’s games that they’re playing with the kids, and it’s fun to see the images of that on social media. Sometimes they dress up in the kitchens and they’re serving kids with different outfits on. I just know that what they’re giving to us isn’t a standard “this is what we give to all districts.” I know they’re looking at my district, they’re looking at who my students are, what foods they eat and they’re bringing all of that to my kitchens and to my kids. So I know they actually love my kids, and that brings a personalized experience which just makes everything better.
The Lunchtime employees make all the aspects of our breakfast/lunch program run smoothly. From ordering to cooking to serving, Lunchtime provides us with everything we need.
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