Duxbury School Lunch Program Sees Dramatic Improvement in Student Satisfaction
Recent survey shows approval rating jumped from 34% to 76% as food service team enhances student engagement
DUXBURY - March 19 - The Duxbury School District's food service program reports a significant turnaround in student satisfaction, with approval ratings more than doubling since last spring. Food and Nutrition Services Director Kellie Prince presented these findings to the School Committee at their recent meeting.
"We took it as a challenge," Prince says. "Through some negative things, sometimes great positive things come. It grounded us a little bit. We are more in touch with the students, and that's always a positive."
The high school survey shows 76% of students now rate the food service program positively, compared to just 34% in the previous K-12 Insight survey. Middle school satisfaction also improved, with 50% of students expressing approval, up from 34%.
Prince attributes the improvement to increased student engagement and better communication about menu options. The food service team conducted separate surveys for high school and middle school students to gain more specific feedback.
"When you have a specific survey with 12 questions specifically on that one item, I think you get a better picture of what's really going on," Prince explains.
The high school survey received 345 responses with balanced participation across all grades. Results show 57.1% of high school students eat school lunch four to five times per week.
Katie DiNardo, Kitchen Lead at the middle and high school, notes that student preferences evolve as they progress through the grades.
"We watch their palates change," DiNardo says. "When they come in as sixth graders, the biggest thing that we hear is the pizza is amazing here. And then we watch them progress to seventh grade, and they're really trying the hot lunch more and more."
The survey revealed some surprising student favorites. Cucumber slices ranked as the most popular vegetable option at both the middle and high schools.
"Who knew that cucumber slices were the fan favorite?" Prince remarks. "We order 40 pounds of cucumbers every week."
Among hot food items, dumplings and orange chicken top the list of student favorites at the high school. The food service team introduced dumplings this year, and they've become an instant hit.
"They're still talking about dumplings. They want them all the time," Prince says.
The food service team has implemented several initiatives to improve student engagement. These include:
- Creating High School and Middle School Food Service Advisory Councils
- Establishing an ASP block program where high school students can work in the kitchen
- Conducting kitchen walkthroughs during fall open houses
- Hosting School Committee members for lunch visits
- Maintaining an Instagram page (@duxschnutrition) to showcase menu items
Prince notes an interesting dynamic in the survey results. While 87% of high school students acknowledge that healthy choices are available, only 70% rate the taste and quality of food positively.
"When I think of healthy choices, sometimes the two components that have real guidelines to them that we have to adhere to are fat and salt," Prince explains. "I think sometimes when we're a little bit healthier, salt is a learned taste."
DiNardo adds that whole grain requirements also affect student perception. "It's usually a white dough that you get at a pizza place. So the whole grain pizza, pasta, all the rolls we use for sandwiches and wraps, they're all whole grain."
The food service program currently serves about 1,900 meals daily across the district. Prince emphasizes that vegetarian and gluten-free options are available at all schools every day, though not all options appear on the posted menu.
"We know these vegetarians, we know these gluten-free students one-on-one," Prince says.
School Committee member Matt Gambino praised the food service team's approach to addressing the previous survey results.
"I have a lot of respect for the way that you handled it," Gambino says. "I just want to really congratulate you for owning the feedback and working really hard to try to understand better what was behind the feedback and doing it again. I think that was a real sort of adult way to handle it, and a very professional way to handle it."
Prince plans to conduct another survey later this spring to see if there are seasonal differences in student satisfaction.
Other major items discussed at the meeting included:
- Updates on the upcoming override vote and potential impacts on school staffing *editor’s note: the override failed at the ballot. Link.
- Recognition of Katie Cleary's service as this was her last School Committee meeting
- Announcement of a parent information night on "Practical Strategies to Help Children Navigate Technology" scheduled for next Wednesday
- Discussion of potential Broadway performances coming to the Performing Arts Center this summer
- Updates on extended school year planning and MCAS testing
The School Committee's next meeting is scheduled for April 2, when they will reorganize with new members following the town election on Saturday.