Some Local School Districts Experience Effects Of Nation's Supply Chain Shortages

The menu is getting sparse at some Oklahoma school cafeterias. A supply chain shortage has some school districts making adjustments.

Wednesday, September 29th 2021, 3:50 pm



The menu is getting sparse at some Oklahoma school cafeterias. A supply chain shortage has some school districts making adjustments.

The nationwide staffing and supply chain shortages are hitting schools across the state, including some in the Oklahoma City metro.

"They can't staff their assembly lines, distributors, don't have drivers," said Dan Lindsey, Edmond Public Schools' director of child nutrition. 

Lindsey said in the last couple of weeks, they've had to substitute 50 to 60 food items per week because it's out of stock. 

Starting Friday, the district will be offering only one option for lunch, and they may have last-minute menu changes, he said.

"We were just having trouble keeping the full menu," said Lindsey. "We thought, 'let's just simplify it.'"

Moore Public Schools said they've also been impacted, especially with paper goods.  

They've had to make trips to Sam's and buy supplies to help them get through. 

Oklahoma City Public Schools said they've also shortages with some food items but they're working to find creative substitutions.

"OKCPS remains committed to ensuring all of our students have healthy, nutritious meals available to them each day," the district said in a partial statement.

"There are some kids where this is really the most nutritious and maybe the only real food that they get during their day," Lindsey said.

Lindsey said another obstacle the district has seen is a shortage in staff. They typically have about 200 employees in the child nutrition department, but right now, they have 23 open positions.

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