School nutrition plan for the 2020-21 year

The following is the Cheatham County Nutrition Department's plans for the 2020-2021 school year:

 

All models

• Meals will be provided in 3-compartment to-go containers with individually wrapped or portioned items as much as is feasible. Utensils will be individually wrapped and placed in bags by nutrition staff. All condiments will be served to students and students will not be able to get their own.
 
• Items will be placed in “T-shirt”/shopping bags for ease of transport.
 
• There will be no share tables available.
 
• A la carte options/items will still be sold.
 
• Payments can be made online via Revtrak.
 
Free and Reduced-priced meal applications are now available at schools, the Board of Education, the School Nutrition Office, and the Parent Portal in Skyward (detailed instructions are available on the Nutrition Department website).
 
• All cashiers have barcode scanners so that students do not touch keypads at any point. These are new scanners and will be much quicker than the prior scanners.
 
• Students will scan their own barcodes so that nutrition staff do not handle each child’s barcode.
 
• Students will need assigned seating for lunch if they are seated under 6 feet apart to help if contact tracing is needed.
 
• No visitors or outside guests will be allowed to eat with students.
 
• No outside food deliveries this year.
 

For Families who have chosen Virtual:

• Nutrition staff will be reaching out to any family who has chosen this option. They will be asked:
    • if they are interested in meals,
    • the names of their students, and
    • the school at which they will pick meals up.
      • If a parent/guardian wants to have a different family pick up meals for their child, they will need to provide the nutrition department written permission for another adult to pick up meals for their child (that adult will need the student’s barcode to get the meals at the pick-up).
• Families will be given an option of meal pick-up everyday (getting lunch from that day plus breakfast for the next day) or on Wednesdays (to pick-up 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches).
 
• Middle and High School curbside pick-up of meals will be available from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. on Wednesdays.
 
• Elementary School curbside pick-up of meals will be on Wednesdays and times will be individually scheduled with the cafeteria manager.
 
• Daily pick-up times will be scheduled individually with the cafeteria manager.
 
• Parents will be asked to bring their child’s barcode with them to scan as they pick-up meals.
 
• Parents can pick-up meals at one school even if their kids attend multiple different schools.
 
• A la carte options will be available for sale during the Wednesday distributions.
 

Elementary Schools – Traditional Model:

• Students will be served breakfast and lunch as normal with the added measures listed in the “all models” section above.
 
• Breakfast will be eaten in the classroom.
 
• Principals will determine which students eat in which parts of the school for lunch each day.
 
 
Middle and High Schools – Hybrid Model:
 
• Students in schools will be provided breakfast and lunch as normal with the added measures listed in the “all models” section above.
 
• Parents will be surveyed by the nutrition department to see whether or not they would like their child sent home with meals for the days they are attending school virtually.
    • Note: Meals will be charged at the paid, reduced-price, or free rate for which their child qualifies.
    • Free and reduced-priced meal applications are available now.
• Students who attend school Mondays and Tuesdays will be sent home on Tuesdays with 3 breakfasts and 3 lunches for the days they are attending school virtually.
 
• Students who attend school Thursdays and Fridays will be sent home on Fridays with 3 breakfasts and 3 lunches for the days they are attending school virtually.
 
• Meals will be distributed to students at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday or Friday (depending on the day the student attends school) for the children to take home.
 
• Coolers will be available on the bus to keep designated items cold.