Ricards receives School Lunch Program award

Ruth Ricards, director of Santa Paula Elementary School District’s food service department, received and Outstanding School Lunch Program Award from the California Department of Education for 2001 at the regular board meeting on March 11. Among other improvements to the district’s nutrition program, Ricards is responsible for adding healthy choices, through a salad bar, at Isbell Middle School, Bedell, and Glen City elementary schools. Students are delighted they have something else to choose from besides the regular menu. According to cafeteria workers, students who did not eat lunch before, now line up for the salad bars. Salad bars are also offered to staff members. The California Department of Education, Nutrition Services Division annually recognizes participating agencies that have displayed exemplary administration of their National School Lunch Program. Sponsors scheduled for a Coordinated Review Effort are eligible to be nominated by Division child nutrition consultants based on the American School Food Service Association’s Keys to Excellence. Keys to Excellence is designed to assist schools achieve nutrition integrity goals at the administrative, management and operational levels. This tool, through its standards of practice and indicators, defines national standards for quality programs and provides a framework for continuous program review, evaluation, and improvement. From a statewide 161 agencies eligible to receive this award, Ricards is one of five that is being recognized for program excellence. Photo by Brian D. Wilson