Dear Prosser School District Parents/Guardians,
We regret to inform you, like many other schools in our state, we have received a notice from Darigold, our milk supplier, regarding an anticipated shortage in milk supply. The issue stems from delays in production at the packaging carton supplier, and Darigold is actively working to identify alternative suppliers to address the situation.
At the moment, we have not been directly affected by the shortage. However, we want to keep you informed about the potential impact on our school community in the coming days.
Our Food Service Director, Darlene Morrow, has been in contact with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to keep them informed about the challenges we are facing. In response, OSPI has provided guidance on how to navigate the shortage without compromising the quality of our meal services.
Key Points from OSPI:
1. Flexibility in Meal Offerings: During the milk shortage, we have the flexibility to offer water and/or juice as substitutes until the regular milk types become available.
2. Compliance with Regulations:
- The waiver does not alter the requirement that only 50% of the total fruit offered throughout the week can come from juice. Menu adjustments will be made to ensure compliance with juice requirements.
- At least one type of beverage must be available for all meals.
3. "Offer vs. Serve" Meal Service:
- For breakfast, if milk is unavailable, we may offer three food items instead of the usual four. Students will need to take all three items for a reimbursable breakfast.
- For lunch, if milk is not offered due to the shortage, the remaining four meal components must be offered. This will count as one "declined" meal component, allowing students to decline one additional meal component at lunch.
Continued Communication:
We appreciate your understanding and patience during this challenging time for all schools in our state. Darigold is diligently working to resolve the supply chain issues, and we will keep you updated on any developments. If the shortage persists or if there are changes to our plan, we will promptly communicate the updates.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out. We value your cooperation and support as we navigate through this temporary milk supply shortage.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sincerely,
Kim Casey, Superintendent