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Leah Schmidt to head dining at St. Joseph Schools

Former SNA national president will lead department to self-operation.

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

July 24, 2015

1 Min Read
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Leah Schmidt, former president of the national School Nutrition Association (SNA), is taking over as director of nutrition services for the St. Joseph School District in Missouri, according to local reports. She will oversee a newly self-operated nutrition services after the district’s board decided not to renew its contract with Opaa Food Management Inc. for the 1015-16 school year.

Schmidt had been director of food services for Hickman Mills C-1 School District in Kansas City since 1998 after beginning her career with that district in 1991.

St. Joseph School District has an enrollment of approximately 11,000 students, of which around 7,000 (63 percent) qualifies for free or reduced price school meals, according to its 2014-15 annual budget, most recent available. The foodservice budget was estimated at around $7 million in that same document.

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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