Most students do not realize the amount of time and effort that goes into planning school meals. They punch in their lunch number and then move on with their day. For Director of Food Services Jamie Wilson, it’s more than just a meal; it is serving his community.

Wilson has served the School District of Superior for ten years and has been in the food business for 25 years. His experience working at and owning restaurant establishments eventually led him to the district.

“I switched over to the school district because I wanted to work with the kids,” Wilson said.

Having three of his own kids, Wilson knows the importance of making good and tasteful meals for kids, but he is not just able to make whatever he wants. There is a lot of careful planning that goes into making the school’s menu.

One of his first roadblocks when planning meals is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which establishes food regulations for schools. Wilson has to make sure that the meals follow rules such as a certain amount of protein, sugar, and calories. Simply, they must follow the MyPlate diagram.

Although the school district already has a team of current staff, the second roadblock he runs into is staffing. 

“It isn’t easy finding staff who care but the staff we have here are wonderful, they care about the kids and want to help,” Wilson said. 

Food service employee Jessica Simonson is in charge of executing some of the nutritious meals on the daily. 

“Working here is fun and feels like a family, even if it’s hard,” Simonson said.

The third roadblock comes when discussing budgetary restrictions. Wilson must carefully plan meals and make sure that they are feasible to execute.  Wilson has to take into consideration each ingredient and the amount of staff required to make and serve each item. He can make this happen by establishing relationships with local partners such as Upper Lake Foods who help to execute his vision.

While planning the meals may be hard, it gives him a challenge, and Wilson loves a good challenge. He wants to be an active member in his community, and continue to make a difference as he can.