Boulder Valley School District hopes to increase participation with food truck

BOULDER, Colo. — Students pouring out of Boulder's Fairview High School last week for lunch found a new option right in their parking lot.

The Boulder Valley School District brought its food truck to the school for the first time, dishing up made-to-order chicken pesto sandwiches, BBQ pork sliders, pesto and provolone grilled cheeses, and burgers.

About 70 students and teachers tried the truck, which takes credit cards and cash along with letting students use their school lunch accounts. Students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches also can order.

"They get to come outside and eat a nutritious lunch that's a little different," said Brandy Dreibelbis, Boulder Valley food services district manager.

The district is rotating the truck among its large high schools — Boulder, Fairview, Monarch, Centaurus and Broomfield — with each school getting the truck one day a week.

After serving students lunch, the truck makes a stop three days a week at the district's administrative offices.

The district bought the pre-owned truck, which is equipped with a sound system and runs off generators, with a $75,000 donation from Whole Foods. The goal is to up the appeal of school lunches, boosting the district's high school numbers. Now, less than 20 percent of the district's high school students buy hot lunches at school.

At Fairview, students and administrators said the school cafeteria is rarely used by students. Even those who buy lunch eat in the halls or outside.