The Child Nutrition Department meets the needs of the individual, school, and community. The program must focus on multiple goals in order to meet these needs. The following represents some of the goals this department aims for: to maintain high student participation in the program; to involve students, parents, and staff in the meal planning; to practice sound fiscal management; to address requirements of special needs children; to utilize surplus commodity foods provided; to augment nutrition quality; to provide nutrition education, and to produce innovative ideas in all areas of food production/service.

Food safety is so critical in the feeding of children because children are considered a vulnerable population with their less-than-fully developed immune systems. Increased education and action on the part of food service personnel, as well as others in the school community, is essential in the prevention of food-borne illnesses and outbreaks.

With that in mind, the Child Nutrition Department has all Child Nutrition employees recertify their food handler status via a comprehensive test. The food production staff at the Control Kitchen, as well as, the middle school/elementary lead workers, are tested every three years with a national exam and receive a higher level food handler certification required by the County Department of Environmental Health. The entry level employees take the recommended food handler exam that prepares them to be safe food handlers.

• Food Safety and Sanitation
• Department Operational Statistics

Nutrition employees are a fabulous team. These dedicated employees demonstrate commitment everyday as they prepare and serve food to the Cajon Valley residents' children. They know the impact their jobs have on the lives of their customers—the children. They have many accomplishments to celebrate as they continuously prepare to feed the future!

Other Programs:

• Head Start Preschool Programs in area
• After School Snack Programs

Central Kitchen:

• A La Carte / Catering – prepares adult deli items for elementary staff, elementary alternate meal choice, catering orders and breakfast orders.
• Bakery – prepares low fat cinnamon rolls, muffins, cakes, breakfast breads, specialty bakery items for catering
• Cooks – prepares lunch entrees and side dishes for elementary schools
• Dispatch A.M. – dispatches hot meals, produce, cold sandwich, and field trip lunches.
• Dispatch P.M. – cleans all carts returning from lunch service, sanitizes carts for next day’s service, responsible for all supplies sent to site cafeterias.
• Middle School Production - prepares fresh salads and sandwiches and dispatches all food to 6 district middle schools