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Show Wednesday, August 13, 2003 Vernal Express a Uses aOD stunrsmmnieir geff ready ffoir UlnIS C3 Dft ft tto Coordinator Russell Anderson and secretary Sherry Hardman help organize stored foods to be used for the thousands of meals served weekly in the Uintah School District. serves thousands off meals daily DSstiirictf Russell Anderson is in charge of figuring out how to sene 5.000 meals a day! This is not a job to be done the week before school starts in September Anderson says, but one that is an ongoing program throughout the year for this coordinator of the Uintah School District Food Sen ices department. With the assistance of secretary Sherry Hardman, much time is spent obtaining bids on food, managing the reduced income meals program, planning nutritious menus and working the large amount of U.S. Department of Agriculture comthe modities into program. Commodities are used to compensate the District for its reduced income meal program. Food Sendees has 10 kitchens in the District, employs 66 cooks, cashiers and delivery personnel. The Department is now hiring eight part time cooks and a delivery man. Most schools have kitchens on site, but three require food to be transported. In addition to District schools, the Christian Charter School north of Todd Elementary and the Uintah River Charter School in Fort Duchesne, require Food Sendee meals. All district students will receive an application for free and reduced fee lunches at the beginning of this school year. Anderson feels that in the community do not understand the importance of and relationship to other community programs that this free and reduced program plays. Some people don't realize that they qualify for this program, Anderson says, But many other types of funding is determined by how many receive free and reduced meals, such as the public library, grants and technology programs. The applications will be mailed to secondary students and be given during the elementary schools registrations. In addition to lunches, breakfasts are a part of the Lintah foods program, as are snacks used during the Connections program. Anderson says his staff is greatly concerned about food safety, and much training is given employees to ensure safe food. What goes into the lunchroom garbage cans helps determine menus presented at schools, he says, as well as listening to parents and students desires. For economy, much of the program's food is now purchased Anderson's Food Service department is ready for school to start with large food shipments arriving weekly at the two warehouses, two walk in freezers and the walk in cxilcr. many after-scho- pre-niad- e. Money, money and not enough to spend District School For Uintah accountant Kim Bamhurst, money is always an issue. Bamhurst balances the budget and cashflow for the District. Even though her books" are electronic, she sets up all the new budgets for the new year. Perhaps it would seem an easy enough task, but the amounts fluctuate as the state legislature meets annually. Each school also independently holds fund raisers which are funnelled through her office. And then theres the matter of hundreds of employee benefits and changes in programs used. The business office must also decipher benefits and make changes for all contracted employees from cooks to principals. Training principles and secretaries of all the schools regarding changes in procedures is another major task. e New procedures the school before in be effect should year begins. cost-savi- on-lin- UHS secretary Charlene McBride plans for the coming year with Leslie Olsen, an office substitute preparing for the new school year--ami- d equipment and furniture stacked during summer answer the phones and the ques- tions. McBride laughs at the thought of not having phone calls and people needing help at the counter. With a small city of 15(X) students and staff, there will always be people needing help in the office. BacCs fto sdhxooD expenses cam) cays dhiecCibooCt toDwes meet Christensens The Christensens when its time to dress five children for the new school year. The five, children of Eric and LaDonna Christensen, make a large presence in the shoe department when its time to outfit ten feet in something that fits, and that then becomes an issue for the budget. Many families throughout the valley face the same dilemma each year when outfitting children in appropriate clothing causes a checkbook crunch, especially when the child will outgrow much of what is purchased in a short time, coats and bookbags mysteriously disappear when enthusiastic children forget where they left the expensive items, and when playground wear and tear will wipe out shoe toes and clothing in short order. Several parents have made the following suggestions as ways to help the money migration when school starts: 1. Recycle with not only to your own children but with friends and neighbors. 2. Seriously attend yard sales for terrific buys on usable clothing. 3. Check Deseret Industries special sales. 4. Watch closeout sales at all local stores. 5. Dont be afraid to buy at the end of the season--youpretty sure a cold winter will arrive next year, even though youre buying warm coats at pennies on the dollar in March. 6. Sharpen sewing skills and remodel existing clothing for better fit and style. 7. Encourage youngsters to help earn the funds necessary for the s, re Christensen kids bring their five sets of feet to Christensens Shoe Department for back to school shopping. LaDonna waits with Kindergartner Joseph as salesperson Valerie Carr tries tennis shoes on Theron. Kristopher, Kenna and Amanda await their turns with their favorite footwear. new cIothing--i- t helps them take better care of their investments. 8. Believe it or notcheck out Some families are finding interesting shopping online. y. rn-p-p. !lZmd Bamhurst helps keep the books balanced for the large business" of education in Kim r -- ,f T r - wT, I,- - Vs - it - f - 't Uintah County. Most people see the end of the school year in the spring, but the business office sees its audit as the finalizing part of the previous year. For Bamhurst, school is a d job, with large projects continually being addressed. mid-Augu- st year-roun- Cybach New LoobScdotv Wednesday, Thunday, frSatiu'day CaUfcr cm appointment 3 lockers and includes taking care of receipts. Wade Olsen helps generate a multitude of forms, designs programs and bulletins throughout the year. Debbie Lamoreaux keeps the records and transcripts of all of the students accurate and updated. Substitutes and student assistants help with the heavy UHS office workload. McBride says the recently completed voice mail system has made a large improvement in communicating with staff and for parents to follow the progress of their students at the school. The friendly UHS secretary also was involved in the pilot program which has produced the current New Student Information System which is currently being initiated. She finds this system very friendly and gives more accurate reports of all kinds much faster. Speed and accuracy are items her busy office staff needs. She sees the program as being a strong administrative program which should save on the District's budget. All of these upgraded systems and experienced staff is great, but there still remains the constant need to :"' M dka'Hobnei' 789-1- Theres NEVER a dull moment around here, Uintah High School secretary Charlene McBride will tell you with a gracious smile. McBrides secretarial staff directs all activities of the front office, all calendars, staff assignment sheets, activities scheduling, department head assignments, major school activities, graduation, assemblies, crisis management and the Sterling Scholars. Thats just what she can think of quickly. McBride is busy this summer producing the faculty handbook and calendaring for the coming year for the beginning of school year. All of the teachers mailboxes must be reorganized and alphebetized to allow for incoming and outgoing faculty changes. This beehive of vacation activity is being done in the middle of a new carpeting project throughout the school, and installation of updated furniture in the front offices. In other words, in the middle of a mess of Biblical proportions. Peggy Marshall has been helping in the summer, Lesha Hacking takes care of finance and attendance. 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