With a new school year underway, supporting Jamesville-DeWitt students starts with fueling their minds and bodies. Building on her arrival during the 2025-26 school year, Food Services Director Christine Lowe continues to hit the ground running with a clear purpose: expand fresh meal options so every Red Ram has the energy they need to succeed each day.
Fresh, local, and student approved
Lowe and her team have been working to introduce fresh, locally sourced ingredients across the district. Special recognition goes to our five food service managers for bringing this initiative to life in their buildings. Thanks to their efforts, new additions like yogurt parfaits, fresh salads, and sandwich specials have quickly become student favorites. When asked if the updated items get their vote, a table of J-D Middle Schoolers answered with a resounding, “Yes!”
Building on that momentum, Food Services is preparing to participate in the New York Thursdays program. The statewide farm-to-school initiative brings New York-grown ingredients to school menus.
“Nutrition and education go hand in hand, and this initiative is such a wonderful way to bring fresh, local ingredients straight to our students,” said Lowe. “I view each meal as an experience where students can connect with what they’re eating. When they learn where their food comes from, it helps build healthy habits.”
Going local also brings benefits back to our schools. By sourcing at least 30% of lunch ingredients from New York farms, the district could qualify for increased state reimbursement through the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets—boosting state lunch funding from under six cents to 25 cents per meal. That means more resources poured right back into serving students.
Starting the day strong
The food services team is also looking into the addition of a high school grab-and-go breakfast cart to ease busy mornings.
Research consistently shows that a healthy morning meal sharpens focus, stabilizes mood, and boosts academic performance. The mobile cart would meet high schoolers where they are, making morning nutrition fast, accessible, and hassle-free.
“At J-D, we know that academic achievement doesn’t start in the classroom—it can begin in the cafeteria,” said Superintendent Darcy Woodcock. “Aligning our food service goals with our strategic plan is just another example of how we prioritize student wellness.”
Increased participation
Thanks to popular menu updates and Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) funding—which provides free school meals to all families—Jamesville-DeWitt served a record 341,587 meals during the 2025-26 school year, averaging nearly 1,900 meals daily.
With higher participation, staff have worked hard to keep student lines moving.
“This year, lunch lines have been a lot faster, which I’m very grateful for,” shared J-D Middle School student Anayah Amjad. “I think it’s smart how the lunch crew makes us get everything the first time we go in the line. It makes us remember to get everything we need, and lunch lines are a lot more efficient.”
While all students receive meals at no cost, completing the annual Household Income Form remains essential. Returning this form protects our district’s CEP status, secures classroom aid for reading support and technology, and qualifies families for AP/SAT fee waivers.
For questions about the Household Income Form or district meal programs, please contact Food Services Director Christine Lowe.