Ridgewood School Lunches to Improve, District Says

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but Ridgewood officials are betting students will pay more for a better lunch. They're so confident, they're willing to leave the national school lunch program.

According to Business Administrator Angelo DeSimone, revenue opportunities could be realized by leaving the federal program. By opting out of the program, revenue should be made up for with better options offered to students.

The national lunch program came under fire from parents and students complaining the offerings were sparce and in many districts, wholly unappetizing. (This food is terrible, and the portions are so small!)

The cafeteria program last year lost a total of $108,654 in 2011-2012, though roughly half of that figure came in the way of one-time equipment purchases and repairs, DeSimone said in October. Its revenues totalled about $1.1 million overall.

There's good reason to think administrators are onto something with the move.

"It is our desire to offer lunches that are appealing as well as healthy," DeSimone told Patch in an email. "Also, we are looking to simplify the ordering process."

The district recently began a new experimental lunch program (outside of the federal lunch program) at Ridge Elementary School, run by service provider Pomptonian. Parents and students have been pleased with the overall offerings. Ridge has experienced a 20-40 percent increase in participation with its new menu.

Ridgewood High School is also not in the national lunch program.

Pomptonian's contract with the district is expiring at the end of the year. Thus far, according to DeSimone, they're the only provider that has responded to a request for proposals for the next school year.

Neighboring district Wyckoff – a K-8 system – is a fellow non-federal lunch participant.