Superintendent Tammy Mangus said the fund balance that was left is required to be used in a specific timeframe with a spend down plan.

“Our kitchen team works hard to make great, healthy meals at an effective cost,” Mangus said. “The facilities and kitchen teams partnered with Cassadaga’s Central Office and the school’s architects, Young and Wright, to put the money to good use to improve and enhance the District’s Sinclairville Elementary School kitchen.”

Specifically, the capital project will look at what Mangus said is the most important task of removing the current deteriorated floor in the Sinclairville Elementary kitchen and replacing it with a new anti-slip and easy to clean flooring solution. If funds remain after those renovations are complete, other potential plans for the funds include; the addition of a second serving line to accommodate high student participation in the meal program and the addition of a larger walk-in cooler with new shelving to expand the cafeteria’s fresh fruit and vegetable program as well as a daily salad entree.

“The food service staff takes pride in serving the children of our community,” Heidi Ottoway, Food Service Director, said.

Pictured is a food service worker at Sinclairville Elementary, where the kitchen is soon set to be renovated. Submitted photo

With these changes, all around improvements that will be seen will include improved safety with the new flooring material and the potential of improved workflows within the kitchen if the additional plans are able to be done as well.

“Our Facilities Director, Todd Ames, and our Food Service Director, Heidi Ottoway, work tirelessly to make sure that The Valley feels like home for our students and staff,” Mangus said. “This project is just one of many things that prove their diligence in seeing and seizing opportunities.”

This project will be put out to bidders in the New Year and once the bidding process is complete, Mangus said a final contractor will be selected and a construction schedule will be confirmed, taking into account the lead times of equipment. Mangus said the district works to maximize all funding sources they can to help improve their facilities.

“Cassadaga is proud to maximize all potential funding sources to improve their facilities,” Mangus said. “This project utilizes funds from the Child Nutrition Program to improve the kitchen at Sinclairville Elementary. This work has been part of the district’s long term facilities plan and it is able to be accomplished as it is aligned with this funding source.”