The dedicated student nutrition staff of Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) is focused on serving nutritious, tasty and affordable breakfast and lunch options in each of the district’s 25 school cafés. This school year, 19 out of 25 PCSSD schools are participating in Provision 2 of the National School Lunch Act, which provides meals at no charge for all students on campus. The district also partners with Chartwells K12, a food management service, to provide both nutritious meals and enriching educational programs.
Even with Provision 2 in place, PCSSD Director of Student Nutrition Regena English urges each family to fill out the free and reduced lunch applications.
“There are several benefits to getting approved for free and reduced lunches,” English shares. “First, it eliminates breakfast and lunch costs for families approved for both free and reduced lunches. But the benefits go beyond meals at school, it also allows students to take the ACT test at no cost.”
Other provisions include Title I funding for students, reduced internet cost and a $120 EBT card sent to each student who qualifies for summer meals.
Brady Martin, the Chartwells K12 district manager, shares the latest on their educational programs. During the Student Choice events, PCSSD secondary students cast a vote for menu items they’d like added to their cafeteria menu.
“Caribbean barbecue pulled pork sandwiches for the win!” Martin says.
For elementary students, Martin’s team introduces new foods through a program called Discovery Kitchen.
“We were fortunate to have a special guest at our Chenal Elementary Discovery Kitchen in September. Celebrity chef/home and lifestyle personality Jennifer Maune — a finalist on season 13 of Gordon Ramsay’s ‘MasterChef’ in 2023 — joined us to share her culinary journey and help impart upon the students how proper nutrition and the foods we eat fuel our bodies for performance.”
Other programs include a six-week Global Eats initiative that introduces secondary students to a new authentic dish from a different culinary culture, and in the spring, an elementary program called Mood Boost teaches students about ingredients aimed to help fuel specific moods or feelings such as alert, calm, confident, happy, smart and strong.
“We are also pleased to have opened up a new cafeteria district at Robinson High School’s freshman campus, completely renovating the kitchen with an investment of over $300,000 to serve those students and staff,” Brady says. “We’ve seen so many good things — and so many happy students — during the fall semester and are excited for even more in the spring!”
Click here to learn more about free and reduced lunches, and learn more about PCSSD Student Nutrition Services here.