Clear Eyes, Full Bellies — RCS’ Food Service Team Can’t Lose

Every day, 88 Food Service staff members interact with all 7,200 of our students. They serve 2,936 breakfasts and 4,790 lunches. But even if you bring your lunch, our cooks always have a smile for our students.

Wendy Novotni, Food Service Director, is proud of how closely her team collaborates. “Through professional development, chef training and team-building activities, we’re a family,” she said.

Head Cook for Waggoner Road Elementary School, Tina Phillips, agrees. “If someone needs assistance in their kitchen, we help out. If one of our cooks is going through a tough time, we provide meal trains, a hug, you name it.”

The Food Service Department is famous for providing students with nutritious meals so they can fuel their brains for class. “Our department is the heart of the school,  as we have the privilege of interacting with every student. I particularly enjoy exploring new menu items and creating themed menu days for them to enjoy,” said Wendy.

For Tina, the kids make an impact on her every day. “I’ve been in the District for 23 years,” she said. “I started at the high school, and thought those kids were so awesome. Then I was at Waggoner when it was the middle school and junior high campus. Those students were so cool. Now, I have grandbabies of my own, so I love hearing the stories the Kindergartners tell me- even if their parents don’t want them to!”

What should parents know about their student's lunch account?
PaySchools Central allows families to add money to student meal accounts online using Visa or Mastercard (including debit cards). All children in one household can be managed under a single account. A small convenience fee applies, and funds typically post within 4 hours. You can sign up on the online portal at www.PayschoolsCentral.com.

Use of PaySchools Central is optional. Cash and checks are still accepted for meal account deposits.

How can parents apply for free/reduced lunch? 
Families can apply or update their Free and Reduced-Price school meal application at any point during the school year by visiting www.PayschoolsCentral.com. Translated applications can be found on the district website here. If you have any questions or need help, please call the Food Service office at 614-501-1211.

What’s on the menu?
We offer hot and cold vegetarian options every day in all schools.  Some of the items are:  veggie nuggets, veggie burgers, vegetarian salads, hummus cruncher box and a vegetarian wrap.

Tina makes sure that every breakfast item is served warm. “Even if it’s a pop tart, I make sure to put it in the oven for a minute so students can have a warm breakfast,” she said.

PRO TIP: While the students love pizza, Tina’s favorite meal is popcorn chicken and mashed potatoes. “It’s sort of like a KFC bowl- add some corn, the kids love it."

Menus can be found on the district website here.

PRO TIP: Wendy recommends downloading the My School Menus mobile app to view daily Food Services menus for Reynoldsburg City Schools. The app is available on Android and iOS. You can filter the menu for common food allergens like nuts, wheat, and dairy. It also gives you access to nutritional information like carb counts and calories with just a few clicks.