In September 2021, Mission CISD proudly introduced seven new food trucks intended to serve students at various schools. The district aimed to promote healthy eating and provide more lunch options. Initially, they received interest from nearby school districts, eager to learn from this innovative approach.
However, things didn’t go as planned. The food trucks faced several operational challenges and have been out of commission for nearly two years, according to Assistant Superintendent of Operations Ricardo Rivera. During a school board workshop in December, Rivera mentioned that the district is exploring ideas to repurpose the trucks, though no definitive plans have been made yet.
Mission CISD began this venture in October 2019 when the school board unanimously approved a nearly $414,000 investment for the food truck fleet. The goal was simple: offer students another way to enjoy nutritious meals. The district chose to partner with Stainless Steel Specialist for the purchase and outfitting of the trucks.
After much anticipation, the trucks finally launched in September 2021. The district hoped that serving food outdoors would encourage students to enjoy their meals, like chili cheese dogs and pizza, in the fresh air. Former Superintendent Carol G. Perez expressed excitement about this initiative, stating that it reflected the district’s commitment to providing appealing and nutritious options.
Unfortunately, the results were disappointing. A report requested by the Progress Times revealed that the food trucks did not serve many meals. One truck at Kenneth White Jr. High served zero meals during the 2022-2023 school year. While some schools, like Alton Memorial Jr. High, performed modestly better, the most successful truck at Veterans Memorial High School served over 36,000 meals, accounting for more than half of the total meals served by the fleet. In total, Mission CISD served just over 60,000 meals, a disappointing outcome given the initial investment.
Marcos Rodriguez, the director for child nutrition, highlighted some issues plaguing the program. Transportation challenges made it hard to deliver food safely. WiFi connectivity problems further complicated operations. Additionally, the outdoor dining experience suffered from inadequate seating and weather conditions often disrupted meal service. Staffing shortages also played a critical role in the program’s struggles. Out of thirteen planned food trailer positions, only three remain active for the 2024-2025 school year.
In summary, while the idea of food trucks in schools was innovative, several barriers hampered the Mission CISD initiative, leading to underwhelming results. The district is now looking to repurpose the trucks, though it remains to be seen how that will unfold.
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