Ortonville Public Schools
When leaders at Ortonville Public Schools noticed their nutrition program was losing money, they knew something in their school’s nutrition operations needed attention, but the root cause wasn’t immediately clear.
The Story
A Recipe for Success in Ortonville Public Schools
CESO’s Nutrition Services team partnered with the district to take a closer look. Through a detailed review of the program’s day-to-day operations, staffing, and workflows, the team identified the factors behind the financial challenges and suggested practical, sustainable improvements. The focus was to strengthen efficiency, improve program management, and ensure the district could provide healthy, reliable meals to students every day.
At the same time, the district was navigating a leadership gap without a dedicated nutrition director. CESO provided steady support during this transition, working alongside staff to implement operational improvements, maintain consistency, and guide key decisions.
CESO also assisted district leadership in hiring a new nutrition director, ensuring the program had the long-term leadership needed to sustain improvements.
The Outcome
Today, with new leadership in place, Ortonville’s nutrition program is better positioned for stability and success. CESO continues to support the district through the end of the school year, including preparation for an upcoming Minnesota Department of Education administrative review, an important step in maintaining strong program compliance and reporting.
This story highlights how thoughtful guidance and specialized expertise in school nutrition operations can strengthen systems, support staff, and ultimately ensure that students have access to high-quality meals every day.
