It was another great turnout for our semi-annual community event Soup’s On! This luncheon with our leadership team is for residents of our district 55 and older. This month, attendees heard from Superintendent Dr. Paul Myers about some special recognitions for some of our schools, including East High’s Purple Star recognition, as well as other updates.
Attendees experienced a high school lunch as they heard about what it takes to serve 12,000 meals a day from the Director of Student Nutrition Services Paul Becker.
When asked why they recommend the event to others, guests overwhelmingly share that they find the updates and presentations informative. “It’s great to get an update on our public school years after our kids were in school,” one wrote on the exit survey.
“When you give the different department heads a chance to speak about the area of expertise you really get the chance to see the passion they bring,” another wrote.
Our events for the 2025-2026 school year are scheduled for Oct. 22, 2025 and April 2, 2026. If you live in Fort Zumwalt and are older than 55, you can join us! Just be sure to register by emailing or calling Laura Wagner, Director of Communications. 636-204-2072
Serving up some Stats on FZSD Student Nutrition
22% of FZ students qualify for Na-tional School Lunch Pro-gram (NSLP) free- and reduced-priced meals
NSLP meals are designed to be nutritious because they follow specific guidelines set by organizations like the USDA to ensure students receive balanced, healthy meals. Here’s why they are considered nutritious:
Balanced Nutrition – Meals include a variety of food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and dairy, to provide essential nutrients.
Portion Control – Serving sizes are regulated to provide the right amount of calories based on students' age and activity levels, helping prevent overeating.
Reduced Sodium, Sugar, and Unhealthy Fats – Guidelines limit added sugars, sodium, and saturated fats to promote heart health and reduce the risk of childhood obesity and other health issues.
More Whole Grains – Schools are required to serve whole-grain-rich foods, which help with digestion and provide long-lasting energy.
Fruits and Vegetables – Students must be offered a variety of fruits and vegetables, ensuring they get essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Low-Fat or Fat-Free Dairy – Milk and other dairy products must be low-fat or fat-free, providing calcium and vitamin D for strong bones.
Supports Overall Health and Learning – Proper nutrition helps improve focus, energy levels, and academic performance, making it easier for students to succeed in school.
By following these standards, school meals play a key role in supporting children’s health and development.
What makes a reimbursable meal? Entree, 2½ cups fruit, 2½ cups veggies and milk For a student meal to qualify for reimbursement through the NSLP, the student must receive a serving of meat/meat alternative, fruit, vegetable, grain and liquid milk.
$0
Student Nutrition Services is an independent, self-sustaining entity. When it comes to student meals, zero taxpayer dollars go into the mix. According to SNS Director Paul Becker, that includes the costs of supplies, equipment and staff. This arm of the district is charged with providing meals that meet government health standards at a price that remains reasonable for district families. It operates off of the money it makes for meals and vending, as well as government reimbursements and grants.
$3.10 What FZ elementary students pay for school lunch
$3.99 What an elementary school lunch costs to make
-$0.89 Difference absorbed by Student Nutrition Services
Here’s how they do it: Student Nutrition Services also operates four coffee shops at our high schools and a districtwide vending operation with 63 machines. The vending operation started 17 years ago and brings in $5,000 - $6,000 per week in sales. The coffee shops launched 10 years ago. Having the service in high schools helps students get coffee, smoothies or other breakfast items at more affordable prices and get to school on time, rather than stop on the way. The coffee bars brought in $579,252 sales last fiscal year.
Overdrawn Student Meal Accounts by year 2021 - 2025
2021-2022 $0
2022-2023 $59,704
2023-2024 $93,556
2024-2025 (through 3/31) $155,337
166 Staff in 30 kitchens served 1,766,422 meals last school year and averaged 100% on their health/safety inspections