• Roles and Responsibilities

    School Nutrition Services is responsible for operating school food service in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. We are employed by the Board of Education. This department’s primary goal is to improve the future eating attitudes of this community by altering the eating habits of its students and adults of today.

    School Nutrition Services is self-supporting. Money received from the federal government as part of the School Nutrition program helps keep prices down for the paying student. Any profit is put back into our program to provide higher quality food to our customers. We operate a $70 million operation.

    School Nutrition provides healthy meals to more than 147,000 students and staff members in 180 schools each day. Each day 40,000 breakfasts and 94,000 lunches are served to children. This totals more than 24 million meals in a year. In addition, snacks are prepared for all After School Enrichment Programs. Catering for school-related functions and special events is also provided.

    In essence, the School Nutrition program is a chain of over 180 restaurants operating within Mecklenburg County.

    The School Nutrition Department provides approved menus designed by a menu committee, similar to the way the home office of a restaurant chain determines what its restaurants may serve. Menus are computer analyzed to assure they meet nutrition guidelines required to receive federal reimbursement for meals. Attention is given to provide food that appeals to students. Students with special diet needs are also accommodated at the breakfast and lunch meal with a licensed physician’s diet order.

    While similarities exist between School Nutrition and restaurants, there are also important differences, such as profit and sales.

    Restaurants exist by generating profit through sales, with customer service as a variable concern. School Nutrition is non-profit. It is through excellent service that operating costs are recovered.

    The School Nutrition Department has 1,400 employees. Each committed to the single task of feeding children. The department consists of an executive director, assistant director, area supervisors, registered dietitians, administrative support staff, cafeteria managers and workers.

    This unit collectively manages the operation of the following:

    • The USDA Federal Program that includes the Free and Reduced Meal Program and the USDA commodity-food program
    • Universal Free Breakfast program
    • The Nutrition Education program
    • The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP)
    • The Procurement program for Food and Equipment
    • Our Point-of-Sale Technology program
    • On-line Payment
    • The Staff Development Programs that enhance the professional skills of all Child Nutrition employees.
    • The Summer Food Service Program
    • School Nutrition Social Marketing & Wellness Program

    The Administrative Support Team is responsible for interdepartmental communication. This staff processes meal applications and performs verification of meal applications. They also prepare food bids, place orders and arrange for food deliveries to cafeteria managers. This staff provides information needed for the many state and federal reports.

    Area Supervisors are responsible for the overseeing of school cafeterias and their day to day operations. Click here to see area and schools assigned to supervisors.