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Child Nutrition

Our team of nutritional professionals strive to ensure our students have fresh, nutritious, well-balanced meals that meet the dietary guidelines for each age group. Our goal is to provide quality service to Orono students to ensure each student can maximize their potential in life.

Contact

Jackie DeRoma
Coordinator of Child Nutrition
952-449-8313
jacklyn.deroma@orono.k12.mn.us

Lauren Spoke
Child Nutrition Specialist
952-449-8386
lauren.spoke@orono.k12.mn.us

Free Meals for Students

Starting in School Year 2023-2024, school breakfast and lunch meals will be fully funded for all students by the state of Minnesota. Providing free, healthy school meals to everyone is an incredible opportunity for our communities. Free meals will consist of one breakfast and one lunch per school day. Meals must include a minimum of 1/2 c. fruit or vegetables and a minimum of 3 meal components to be considered a meal. Additional a la carte items will be available for purchase and charged to the student's meal account. Students must have money in their accounts to make purchases. Please read our Meal Charge Policy, below, for more information.

Our meal program and style of service will remain very similar to previous offerings. We will continue to feature a "Harvest of the Month,"  serve fresh produce daily, and feature a global themed meals on rotation. Our goal is to continue to serve fresh, nutritious, well-balanced meals.   

We still encourage families to apply for Educational Benefits if they think they might qualify. Educational Benefits extend beyond free meals and includes sports and activity scholarships, discounted internet service, and so much more. Benefit information is kept confidential and requires annual renewal. 

For Families

For Staff

Employment

Work for Orono Child Nutrition

Our Child Nutrition Team is currently hiring! If you or someone you know is interested in working in a fun, fast-paced environment that WORKS with your child's schedule, please complete an application online. We are currently hiring substitutes, part-time cooks, and full-time hybrid positions with benefits.

A typical day in Orono Child Nutrition

  1. Arrive at work after your child(ren) gets on the bus (start times are between 9:00-9:45 a.m.). Help receive orders and prepare meals for the day.
  2. Serve students lunch. Our schools serve more than 400 meals a day in each cafeteria.
  3. Interact with students as they check out at the register. Did you know that you receive a FREE lunch while working for Child Nutrition?
  4. Help clean up the kitchen after meal service and prepare for the next day.
  5. Leave work between before 2:00 p.m. to get home before your children.

Apply online

waving goodbye at the end of the day

Wellness

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

In accordance with Federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). Orono Schools is an equal opportunity provider. View the complete statement.