5 coronavirus things: Chartwells K12 intros Ready to Reopen fall school cafeteria plan

In this special edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments regarding coronavirus and its impact on onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

Chartwells K12, a major contract firm operating in the school nutrition market, is introducing a new Ready to Reopen plan featuring six new service models, enhanced safety procedures and new equipment and technologies. The six models are Cafeteria Meal Service, Meal Service in the Classroom, Hallway/Common Area Meal Distribution, Grab-and-Go Meals Off the Bus, Take Home Meal Kits and Home Delivery Meal Kits.

"Understanding the coming school year is going to be different in ways we've never experienced before, our goal is to help school districts make planning mealtime as easy as possible," said CEO Belinda Oakley. "No matter where meals are served, we're still going to serve foods kids love to eat and do everything we can to keep mealtime as a time for students to recharge and enjoy a sense of happiness."

In addition, through a partnership with fellow Compass Group company SSC Services for Education, Chartwells K12 will offer school districts custom programs for custodial services, grounds management and plant operations and maintenance.

Related:Eurest leadership thanks food service staff at FedEx HQ café with Thanksgiving meal

Read more: Chartwells K12 Introduces "Ready to Reopen" Plan to Help Schools Feed Kids This Fall

Almost 300 food service and parking contractors stationed at Silicon Valley tech campuses were laid off from two staffing firms, including dining contractor Bon Appetit Management Co., in recent weeks, new filings with the state Employment Development Department reveal.

Read more: Nearly 300 contract workers in food service, parking laid off from local tech campuses (subscription required)

AMITA Health St. Mary’s Hospital Kankakee in Illinois is preparing for its first Rx Mobile distribution, in partnership with Northern Illinois Food Bank. Launched in July 2019, Rx Mobiles are part of the Food Bank’s Screen & Intervene program to identify chronic disease patients experiencing food insecurity and connect them to fresh produce.

“The Rx Mobile program aims to care for the overall health needs of our community, working with our dietitians and clinicians to support proper nutrition,” said Timothy A. Nelson, system director, communications and media relations for AMITA.

Related:5 coronavirus things: Aramark cuts Philadelphia headquarters staff

To identify patients, healthcare organizations and other community partners conduct screenings for food insecurity, defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as a lack of consistent, dependable access to enough food for all household members for active, healthy living. If patients screen positive, they are referred to the Rx Mobile program or another intervention.

Read more: AMITA partners with Rx Mobiles to connect patients in need with fresh produce

The Wellesley College campus will be a different place as some of its students return this fall. In a memo to the college community, President Paula A. Johnson outlined some of the changes that will be implemented in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

First-year students and sophomores will be invited to live on campus during the fall, and juniors and seniors will be invited for the spring. “This plan allows first-years to start their Wellesley experience in the best possible way, and to be joined by sophomores who will share many of the same classes,” the memo said. “It will also allow seniors to complete their Wellesley experience on campus and juniors to finish their year with the seniors with whom they have shared their time at Wellesley.”

A survey showed that some seniors want to be closer to the campus and are interested in off-campus housing. The students would still take their classes remotely but would have transportation to the campus and would have access to on-campus dining. Final plans for that option have not yet been announced.

Read more: Wellesley College works around coronavirus restrictions

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont says that public schools in the state will open again this fall with costly new safety measures to fight the spread of the coronavirus. All districts will be required to prepare detailed plans for schools to be open for full-time instruction. They will also be required to prepare a backup distance learning plan in the event there is a surge in COVID-19 cases and schools are forced to close.

Among the changes: Lunch in the cafeteria will be a thing of the past, with students eating in their classrooms or outdoors

Read more: Masks, no cafeterias and some outdoor classes. Here’s what Connecticut schools will look like when they reopen this fall

Bonus: 10 technology solutions to help food service operators deal with coronavirus

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]