Rigorous standards for Killeen ISD cafeterias have gone up this year and the hard-working managers and workers are keeping pace just fine.
The district’s School Nutrition leadership began Friday a new season of honoring its biggest stars, surprising meal preparation crews at four schools between breakfast and lunch.
School Nutrition Director Steve Smith praised the staff members for meeting the high federal and local standards not just a day or two but all the time.
Following the first four monthly performance audits, the cafeteria staff members at Fowler, Douse and Mountain View elementary schools and Rancier Middle School earned four stars.
The School Nutrition crew continued the celebration Monday, honoring Venable Village and Clear Creek elementary schools and Palo Alto and Live Oak Ridge middle schools as four-star honorees.
“It is our way to make sure we are meeting our vision for our department,” said Smith, explaining that the monthly audits measure performance, customer service and fiscal elements.
This year, the audit is even more stringent with key performance indicators that focus on efficiency.
“This is not something every school gets recognized for,” he said. “This is something that happens consecutively and this makes four months in a row.”
At each school, Smith, along with nutrition department coordinators and other administrators joined campus administrators in bursting into the cafeteria kitchens to present the surprise honor.
Each honored staff received a Star of Excellence certificate marking their fourth star performance of the school year, along with balloons and a large, decorated, tasty-looking cake.
School Nutrition Coordinator Stephanie Russom said that the nutrition department leaders have worked in kitchens and know the challenge, especially to perform at a high-level serving nutritious meals that students will eat.
It’s also a lot of fun to put a smile on some cafeteria workers’ faces.
“Stars of Excellence is how we make sure our schools are doing what we need to do so every school receives a star audit every month, and we recognize the schools that perform to our standards every day,” said Russom.
“It’s a great way to recognize those who work hard. We show up unannounced, and we have pompoms and are celebrating. It’s a way to give back to them for all that they do,” she said.
“It isn’t always comfortable. It can be hot and sweaty and also cold in the freezer. It’s hard work and they put in the work every day.”
This is the third year for School Nutrition to conduct its Stars of Excellence incentive, with four-, five-, six- and seven-star levels of accomplishment.
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