District: School Lunches Will Get Much Better

Watch out, local delis! Ridgewood school officials say substantial changes to its district lunch program might just put a big dent in competitors' coffers.

According to Business Administrator Angelo DeSimone, food service provider Pomptonian is going to be offering up improved lunches in the upcoming year with a particular focus on elementary school students.

The elementary school offerings will be influenced by Ridge Elementary's experimental program, which has seen increased participation by roughly 20 percent.

The cold cuts, DeSimone said, are the same quality you'll find at the deli – they're Boars Head. And the district's lunches are refrigerated, unlike the brown bag lunches delivered to the schools. Having opted out of the federal lunch program, officials are assuring parents the meals will also be appropriately sized.

Of course, with better meals comes bigger prices. The school board approved a resolution with Pomptonian for the 2013-2014 school year guaranteeing the food giant a $10,000 profit on the sales (Pomptonian receives a roughly 10-cent profit on all meals sold).

While the meals will be of a higher quality, it will be easier to obtain them as well next year.

No longer will parents be forced to order lunches 30 days in advance; they can order their child's lunch up to 8 a.m. that day, DeSimone said. Service charges will also be eliminated.