BVA discusses ways to prevent cafeteria losses

By CHRISTINE HAINES

chaines@yourmvi.com

The Belle Vernon Area School Board learned in a January audit report that the cafeteria fund lost $196,000 last year. The board discussed ways to reduce future losses at Tuesday’s agenda meeting.

Business manager Crystal Clark said district officials examined records from the past three school years and the current year to date. Clark said spending has been down since Transportation Director Dave Bashada added food service director to his duties in 2019. 

A large part of the savings was the elimination of the food service director’s salary, since Bashada’s salary and benefits fall under the general fund budget. 

The 2019-20 school year saw reductions in the cafeteria fund for supplies and milk, which is primarily attributable to the two and a half months students were not in the school buildings, Clark said. Revenues from sales and subsidies from the state and federal governments were also down last year because of the pandemic.

Superintendent Dr. Michele Dowell said the district has been trying to turn the situation around, not only by saving money on salary and benefits, but by increasing participation in the lunch and breakfast programs. 

Comparing the months when school was still in session last year with the same time period the previous year, Dowell said the district saw an increase in the number of meals sold and in a la carte sales.

“There were things that Mr. Bashada was doing that were good, but we didn’t see improvement because of COVID,” Dowell said.

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