As we begin the 2025–2026 school year, I am pleased to share that Tahlequah Public Schools will continue our partnership with Chartwells as our foodservice provider. This year, we are also continuing in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program, which means every student can receive one free breakfast and one free lunch every school day.
To ensure we can keep this program in the years ahead, participation is key. The more students who enjoy meals in our cafeterias, the stronger our ability will be to sustain this program.
Parents and guardians will not need to complete a free or reduced-price meal application for their students to receive free meals. However, we will ask families to fill out an Economically Disadvantaged Form for their household. This form is used only for funding purposes, it is not a meal application, and it does not determine eligibility. Funds that remain in a student’s account will carry over year after year and can be used for seconds, ice cream, or à la carte items.
We are also excited to introduce some changes in our dining leadership with our partner Chartwells. Jean Aldridge will serve as our new Director of Dining Services. Jean holds a culinary arts degree specializing in baking and pastry arts from Northwest Arkansas Community College. She owned a bakery in Arkansas from 2016 to 2021 and then spent three years in St. Louis as an area manager for Crumbl Cookies. She joined Chartwells last year as our Executive Chef, and her dedication to quality food and service has been a wonderful asset to our district.
Stepping into the Executive Chef role is Chef Mark Ainbinder, who trained under Master Chef Roland G. Henin early in his career. He owned “Nacho Business” in Tulsa from 2021 to 2022 and has extensive experience in private schools, universities, and business dining. Chef Mark is committed to bringing in more diverse and specialized menu items and ensuring consistent food quality across all our schools.
Chartwells has exciting plans for the year ahead. We will kick off the school year with our Dip’n to Flavor promotion, pairing popular entrées with a variety of dips. We are also expanding our catering program and will celebrate the Cherokee National Holiday by serving scratch-made Indian tacos in our schools. Chartwells’ fun and engaging programs are sparking a culinary curiosity and inspiring lifelong healthy eating habits. Two to watch out for in the future are Discovery Kitchen, designed to ignite each student’s sense of adventure and discovery through engaging cooking opportunities, experiential learning activities and monthly promotions and Mood Boost which encourages young students to identify, express and boost their mood by making the connection between what they eat and how they feel, both mentally and physically.
Tahlequah’s child nutrition program is about more than just feeding students—it is about supporting the whole community. By removing financial barriers, we are making sure every child has access to nutritious meals. I encourage you to talk with your students about joining us in the cafeteria, trying new foods, and enjoying the experience. Together, Tahlequah Public Schools and Chartwells will continue to put student dining experiences first.
In other news, on Sept. 9, Tahlequah residents will vote on two school bond propositions that include improvements to safety, academics, arts, athletics, technology, and transportation across all school sites. The plans were developed after months of collaboration between district leaders, parents, students, staff, and community members to identify and prioritize facility and program needs.
If you will not be available to vote on Sept. 9, you can still let your voice be heard. Any registered voter can request an absentee ballot; no special reason is required. This makes it easy for busy families, those traveling, those away at college or anyone who prefers the flexibility of voting from home.
The process is simple. Request your absentee ballot through the Oklahoma State Election Board website or the county election office no later than Aug. 25. Ballots will be mailed directly to you and must be returned by mail or delivered in person by the deadline. Please follow all instructions carefully to ensure your vote is counted.
As we begin a new school year, we are grateful to the Tahlequah community for our ongoing partnership and for the time and expertise shared with us as we developed this plan for our students and the future. If you have any questions about the 2025 bond election, please contact us anytime at 918-458-4100.
-Heidi Krueger, Child Nutrition Assistant Director