BY KARISSA MILLER
Iredell-Statesville Schools’ school nutrition program is recommending purchasing a food truck and trailer to serve free lunches to students over the summer and for use throughout the school year.
I-SS School Nutrition Director Tina Wilson gave a presentation to the members of the school board Monday at the Committee of the Whole meeting.
“We’d serve it to them from an inside environment instead of an outside environment. Kids like walking up to a food truck. We can play music and make it fun,” she said.
Wilson recommended purchasing a food truck and trailer from Coast-to-Coast Mobile Vending for $160,000. Between the department’s fund balance and operating budget, they have accrued the funds to purchase it.
“I want to have something like this and proudly take out and feed our children,” Wilson said.
The vehicle is an 8-foot-by-14-foot freightliner converted concession food truck that wouldn’t require a CDL license. The company agreed to provide a trailer at no cost.
Wilson said that she had a difficult time getting bids from other vendors. Biz on Wheels did provide a bid of $150,000, but that did not include a trailer.
The food truck would have a custom wrap design, entrance door, a powered awning, air conditioning, warmer, cooler, generator, stainless steel tables, cabinets and other features.
The meals would be cooked in the kitchen and school nutrition employees will transport it to the food truck. She told the board that the $160,000 price also includes staff training.
“This is a great thing. I love it and I like the idea,” said school board member Anita Kern.
Superintendent Jeff James said many students at South Iredell High School have to eat lunch outside because of overcrowding. He also spoke about potential of overcrowding at North Iredell High School.
The food truck could also be used at schools and special events.
The school board will vote on the food truck and trailer at regular meeting on February 13, Wilson said that the company said could have the truck ready by early to mid-April.
You can buy a food truck, but you can’t pay for their lunches throughout the school year. It has to come out of the school’s budget. Something here is not right. If you can supply meals over the summer, you can supply free lunches throughout the school year! What a wasteful system.
I’m my opinion ISS needs to focus on running the district’s schools and not getting into the mobile food business.
It’s like the City of Statesville buying the Vance Hotel. Then throwing more money to have assessments and studies only to go losing their (our taxpayers dollars) rear on it and giving it away.
Put the money into fixing the problem within our schools. Stay in your lane.
Respectfully,
How about spending the money on teaching and let the parents be parents.
51 schools and only 1 food truck? Maybe we should buy a helicopter for faster delivery? This is the most ridiculous thing I have heard of yet!