The city will expand its fresh food program to as many as 20 public schools this year, an endeavor that will require building and renovating new kitchens and cafeterias as part of Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s commitment to provide kids with nutritious meals.
The undertaking, part of the city’s BuildBPS 10-year facilities master plan, comes as officials say 81 district schools are in dire need of new cafeterias. Currently, many operate out of buildings that were either built before World War II, lack proper cafeterias and kitchens, or are currently using the space as classrooms.
The idea, according to the city, is to have at least one school in each neighborhood with a central kitchen capable of preparing the meals to ship to satellite schools that lack full kitchens.