By Ralph Echtinaw

Food service equipment continues to be upgraded in St. Louis schools with this week’s order of ovens and coolers.

The school board approved purchase of two double deck convection ovens from KaTom Restaurant Supply for $21,848.

Also bidding were Trimark ($22,290), Stafford Smith ($22,522) and Johnson Lancaster and Associates ($27,272).

Board members then approved purchase of a milk cooler for the high school and two refrigerator storage coolers from Trimark for $21,382.

Also bidding were Stafford Smith ($21,974) and Edward Don and Company ($26,822)

Previous food service purchases this school year include disposers and blenders for $10,769, work tables for $10,524, hot serving lines for $5,954, three sinks for $2,778 and walk-in cooler lighting for $445. The district also spent $8,865 for carving stations, an adapter bar, pans and cutting boards, tote bags, office supplies, register chairs, uniforms, thermometers and more.

Food service contract renewed

The school board renewed the contract with Chartwells for food service. (The five-year deal goes up for renewal every year. Once the five years are up the district will take bids on food service.) Not much changed other than a 3 percent increase per meal that Chartwells charges the district. The district now pays 9.4 cents per meal (or $2,992/month) to Charwells. 

Chartwells is represented by Food Service Director Charles Clevinger in St. Louis. He supervises 13 people who prepare and serve food to students.

Marching to Midland

Marching Band Band Director Steve Lawhorne told the board that the band will perform the National Anthem and other tunes at a Sunday, May 21, Great Lakes Loons baseball game in Midland. One board member asked Lawhorne about getting school bands into pro sports arenas. “The Tigers reached out earlier in the year about having the steel band come down,” Lawhorne said. “We couldn’t make that work. So we’re going to try again next year. A lot of the PR departments of major league teams reach out to high school bands because they’re affordable.”

Kindergarten roundup

This year’s kindergarten roundup is set for April 25. Parents are invited to bring future kindergartners to Carrie Knause Elementary from 4-6 p.m. to be registered for the 2023-24 school year. “They get to tour the building, see kindergarten classrooms, have vision and hearing tests, and meet the kindergarten staff along with the Principal Amy King,” said Superintendent Jennifer McKittrick.

Fundraiser successful

The 13th annual Shark Technology Foundation raised more than $15,000 at a March 18 fundraiser at city hall thanks to volunteer organizers Carrie Salladay, Bobbie Marr, Kirby Garza, Bonnie Girard, Ashley Bebow and Joanna Fuentes. The foundation solicits educational technology requests from teachers and uses responses as a basis for determining where the money will be spent. Since its inception, the foundation has raised more than $185,000.

Costa Rica trip authorized

The board approved a Spanish club trip to Costa Rica in 2025. “They plan two years ahead of time for the Spanish Club trip,” McKittrick said. “Last night they approved the 2025 trip so planning can move forward. This includes planning for fundraisers and payment for the students to attend in 2025.”

Some 25 students (plus chaperones) are expected to travel to Ecuador on Thursday, March 23, and return Friday, March 31, for this year’s Spanish club trip.

Additions and subtractions

The board approved the hiring of Robin Hanline as junior varsity softball coach. Hanline already works for the district as a substitute teacher.

The board approved the resignation of Carrie Knause custodian Margaret Hill, who took another job elsewhere.