Dept. of Education grants new lunchroom equipment

The Idaho Department of Education awarded 18 schools across the state almost $177,000 in grant money for new cafeteria equipment.

Schools will be able to purchase items, such as freezers, dishwashers, mixers, etc.

In eastern Idaho, schools in Salmon and Blackfoot will receive new equipment. Salmon Senior High and Pioneer Elementary will get a walk in freezer, valued at $14,765. Stoddard Elementary in Blackfoot will replace their old 36-inch range oven with a new $5,537 range.

“I believe this is a need across the country. Funds are pretty tight and if we wouldn’t have gotten the grant we wouldn’t have been able to buy the stove for Stoddard this year,” said director of child nutrition Laurel Brummond. “Some of these schools have been around for 40 or 50 years and I swear some of the equipment is 40 or 50 years old. Trying to replace equipment so that we can have good functioning kitchens is a priority, but funds are tight and without funds we wouldn’t be able to.”

Brummond said the district is often looking for ways to fund modern equipment. She said the Stoddard is lucky to have funding since extra funds were allocated to Fort Halls Elementary to replace their broken oven.