Mary Milz/Eyewitness News
Marion County - Indianapolis Public Schools is taking a new approach to serving its students breakfast and lunch that's meant to save money and keep students happy.
Workers are learning a new routine at IPS's new food service center. Production at the $13 million facility began 12 days ago. The center is where IPS now prepares breakfasts and lunches for some 22,000 public school students as well as some parochial schools.
The 54,000-square-foot facility is just off I-70. It replaces one at the old Coca Cola Bottling plant.
"In the old facility we didn't have a loading dock. We were literally loading on the street," said Jane Cookson, food service specialist.
The new building allows IPS to unload, store and package food items. It includes a dry warehouse and a freezer set at a frigid 12 below zero.
"We have more cost efficiencies and we can provide meals we know are safer to eat," said Cookson.
That's because of the new sanitary procedures and decontamination equipment.
IPS says the biggest advantage of the new operation is that it gives students choices. Students are getting the same food, but it's packaged and presented differently. Each item is individually wrapped and now comes in paper versus aluminum packaging.
"So if a student just wants chicken and not peas and carrots they don't have to select it," said Cookson.
That means less food wasted, saving money and hopefully keeping students well-fed.
Officials say students are required to take the main entrée and at least one other item to ensure they meet federal dietary guidelines. The change is expected to save IPS $80,000 a year.
