Dorchester District Two earns DISTRICT OF EXCELLENCE DISTINCTION IN SCHOOL NUTRITION

School Nutrition Association Recognizes Outstanding Local School Nutrition Program

The School Nutrition Association has awarded Dorchester School District Two the District of Excellence Distinction in School Nutrition. It is one of only six school districts in the nation and the only one in South Carolina to receive the honor this year. In fact, Dorchester School District Two is the first district in the state to earn this prestigious award.

The District of Excellence Distinction recognizes school districts receiving self-assessment scores of 80 percent or higher in all four "key" areas in the Keys to Excellence program. This high score demonstrates knowledge and application of national best practices in nutrition and nutrition education, communications and marketing, administration, and operations. A district retains this distinction for three years.

Dorchester School District Two's School Nutrition Department oversees the operation of sixteen school cafeterias that serve more than 13,000 meals to students and staff each day. There are more than 21,000 students attending school in the district. Director of School Nutrition/Custodial Services Dr. Ray Bahadori credits the hard work of dedicated school cafeteria managers and their staffs as the reason the district received this national recognition. Dr. Bahadori said, ""We're honored to receive this School Nutrition Association designation because it recognizes all the hard work our school food and nutrition operation does to make school meals delicious, attractive, nutritious, and economical."

Keys to Excellence is a national best practice standards program that has been a core component of SNA's professional development and training programs since 1992. It provides a way for school districts to compare their program to the industry's gold standard while helping meet their goals to serve healthy, delicious food in a cost-effective way.

Additionally, the Keys to Excellence provide school food and nutrition directors with ideas to help promote excellence in food service throughout the school community. Some directors have implemented new and innovative ideas like working with school agri-science and culinary arts programs to raise fish and produce to be served through the district's school lunch program. Others have collaborated with physical education teachers on programs that promote activity and healthy eating. The Keys to Excellence program offers guidance on involving the entire school in student nutrition education, for example, by using the cafeteria and lunch menu as learning tools.

In 2007, an expert committee completed a comprehensive review of the best practice standards for the District of Excellence Distinction in School Nutrition. Districts submit a comprehensive application to a formal peer review panel. District of Excellence recipients may also apply for the prestigious $25,000 District of the Year Award. The District of Excellence and District of the Year programs are made possible through the support of the National Dairy Council.