Woonsocket School District awarded $25K grant for kitchen upgrades

Apr. 3—WOONSOCKET, S.D. — In school cafeterias, a good meal can be the difference between a sluggish afternoon and a productive day. Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service, Woonsocket School District is upgrading its kitchen with state-of-the-art equipment that will improve the quality, nutrition and efficiency of meals served to students.

The funding, awarded through the National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance grants, will allow the school to purchase two six-pan Unox combi ovens. These ovens will enhance meal preparation by ensuring food is cooked evenly, improving food safety and allowing for healthier cooking methods, such as steaming fresh vegetables.

The National School Lunch Program Equipment Assistance grants are designed to provide funds for schools to purchase food service equipment. The equipment they purchase must be used to serve healthier meals, improve food safety and/or help to support the establishment, maintenance or expansion of the School Breakfast Program.

"A well-rounded school meal program can be a vital contributor to a school's success," said George Seamon, interim director of the Department of Education's Child and Adult Nutrition Services. "These grants will help the Aberdeen and Woonsocket school districts make kitchen upgrades that ultimately benefit students and staff."

The grant is part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024, which allocated $10 million nationwide to support schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. Woonsocket is one of two South Dakota districts to receive funding, with Aberdeen School District awarded $8,832.44.

Jessica Anderson, Woonsocket's Food Service Director, applied for the grant after seeing an increasing demand in the school's meal program. As student enrollment continues to grow, so has participation in school breakfasts and lunches.

"With that increase, the need to prepare larger amounts of food has also grown," Anderson said. "Our current equipment just isn't able to handle that demand efficiently. If we fill our oven completely, the food doesn't cook evenly, which decreases the quality and safety of what we serve."

The new combi ovens are designed to provide more precise cooking, ensuring that food is cooked thoroughly and at the right temperature.

"A new combi oven will improve the quality of school meals through a more efficient cooking process," Anderson explained. "The sealed chamber, combined with better heat exchangers and airflow, will allow for faster and more even cooking."

One of the biggest advantages of the new combi ovens is their ability to steam fresh vegetables while preserving their nutritional value.

"This oven will give us the opportunity to prepare fresh vegetables using steam, which will help keep them tasty and appealing," Anderson said. "Children are said to 'eat with their eyes,' so by making vegetables look more attractive, we have the potential to increase participation in our lunch program."

In addition to steaming, the combi oven will allow food service staff to poach, roast, bake, blanch, rethermalize and proof dough, greatly expanding menu options.

"There are some recipes we'd love to try that require proofing pastry dough, but right now, we just don't have the equipment to do that," Anderson said. "This grant is giving us the tools to expand what we offer to students and provide high-quality meals that meet nutritional guidelines while tasting great."

Woonsocket School District also participates in South Dakota's Farm to School program, which connects schools with local farmers and ranchers to provide fresh, locally sourced ingredients for student meals. Since 2023, donated beef has been processed for school lunches, while fresh fruits and vegetables add variety and nutrition. According to Anderson, the program supports local agriculture while ensuring high-quality meals for students. However, with the USDA cutting funding for Farm to School and Beef to School programs, the district's ability to continue next year remains uncertain.

The new ovens will be installed in time for the 2025-2026 school year, bringing noticeable changes to the school's meal program. Anderson hopes the students and staff will appreciate the improved meal quality, particularly the fresher, more appealing steamed vegetables.

Beyond improving meals, the grant also provides financial relief for the district.

"Receiving these grant funds means we don't have to take money from an already tight budget to purchase this equipment," Anderson said. "With food costs continuing to rise, it becomes harder to find available funds for kitchen upgrades. This grant makes a huge difference for our program and, ultimately, for our students."

The Woonsocket School District currently serves 275 students in grades PreK-12, and with these kitchen upgrades, the school hopes to continue enhancing the meal program to better serve its growing student population.

"My main goal is to always put a high-quality product on the plate — something that meets guidelines, looks good, and tastes great," Anderson said. "I want all of our students to participate in our meal program, enjoy what we serve, and leave the cafeteria feeling full and ready to take on the rest of their day."