WOCSD seeking to continue innovation and high standards in student nutrition with search for new food service director

Post date: May 23, 2018 7:6:23 PM

In recent years, the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District has received attention at the state and national level for achieving consistently high academic rankings and a 100 percent graduation rate. For example, in their 2018 list of top performing high schools, US News and World Report designated Wells High School a “Silver Medal School” for being ranked 4th among Maine high schools and 523rd nationally.

“As this honor is well deserved, it also pushes us to work even harder to be the best at everything we do,” commented School Committee member Boriana Dolliver. “We would also like to pride ourselves into being innovative in terms of how we approach eating and nutrition. Simply put, Dolliver sees one premise here and that is “Food should be delicious and good for you.”

So, along with dedicated teachers, adequate resources and a supportive community, it is reasonable to assume that good nutrition at lunchtime also factors into the mix leading to overall academic success. For over ten years the District has strived with its farm-to-school initiative to serve healthier, less processed food meals producing, on average, about 12,000 such meals a month in a 10-month school year.

With that said, and with the news that the current nutrition services director is leaving the District to embark on another chapter in her career, the Wells-Ogunquit CSD, finds itself seeking a new Director - one who will continue the commitment to the District’s ongoing 10+ year direction to reinforce good eating habits among students through education, special events and limiting a reliance on processed foods through a continued partnership with area farmers thus incorporating fresh produce into school meals.

“We are (hoping to find) a food service professional who is passionate about nutrition and kids. Someone who can play a role in driving positive change in the WOCSD food system,” added Dolliver.

In 2012, the School Nutritional Services and the Physical Education department at WES were recognized with a “Silver Award” in the Healthier U.S. Schools Challenge, a voluntary program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.

For more information please contact the Wells-Ogunquit CSD at 207-646-8331 from 8am to 4pm, Monday through Friday.