01/23/14 Plymouth Schools Superintendent Daniel Tyree has announced that Kaylyn Herrold, registered dietician, has been hired by the corporation to work with cafeteria staff to meet the seemingly ever changing USDA meal requirements and also provide classroom instruction on wellness and nutrition.
Making sure that 3,300 meals per school day are prepared and served to the students in the Plymouth Schools along with overseeing a staff of 50 is a daunting task that Food Service Director, Gloria Burnam gladly takes on. Add to that adhering to USDA school meal requirements that must be met to the letter makes the job even more difficult.
Tyree indicated that parents need to be informed of the efforts of the corporation to ensure good nutrition for their children. Several years ago, Plymouth Schools began working with the Marshall County Purdue Extension staff to review menus and make suggestions for improvements.
Plymouth is just one of 17 school corporations that Herrold will be assisting through NIESC, Northern Indiana Educational Service Center. Among other things, NIESC offers many professional services that school corporations can take advantage of by banding together.
Burnam said, “Students have 30-minute meal periods and we want to make sure they are eating the food that we offer. We try to have things we know the kids are going to eat.”
Herrold is a 2011 Purdue University graduate with BS in Dietetics. She went on to Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) in 2012 for a Dietetic Internship. Currently, she is enrolled in Oklahoma State University online courses to obtain a MS in nutrition.
Carol Anders Correspondent
Photo: Plymouth Schools Food Service Director, Gloria Burnam, chats with Menominee Elementary students Emilee Rodriguez, Amber Holderman, Keiara Himes during lunch time.
