Date Approved

5-4-1999

Embargo Period

7-22-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in School Business Administration

Department

Educational Services and Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Johnson, Theodore B.

Subject(s)

Camden City Public Schools (Camden, N.J.); School business administrators--Training of

Disciplines

Elementary and Middle and Secondary Education Administration

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the implementation of a computerized food service system would improve the present financial and management conditions of the district's food service department, by eliminating costly mistakes that repeatedly requires the district to repay monies to the government.

During the initial stage of the project, food service directors from various school districts in New Jersey were instructed to complete a survey to determine the effectiveness of using a computerized system. Data gathered from these districts indicated that the use of computers in school food service departments can greatly enhance the management and operation of the department and ultimately provide the consumer (students) with excellent service and food while simultaneously satisfying state and federal guidelines.

Thirty-three high school students responded to a questionnaire regarding their lunch time experiences associated with lunch tickets and the lunch lines. It was their opinion that the school cafeteria would be used more often if the embarrassing ticket system were eliminated. Since the ticket system that is currently used identifies the student as one who receives a free or reduced cost meal, students are reluctant to use the cafeteria services. A computerized system would eliminate this demeaning practice.

Next, to ascertain the feasibility of computer usage in the schools' food service department, food service managers and high school students were surveyed. The food service manager survey was designed to make an assessment of their attitudes towards a plan to computerize the food service system. The responses of the the food service managers who were surveyed indicated that the majority felt that computer technology usage would significantly aid in enhancing their job performance and also improve their general attitude in the workplace.

Upon completion of the study, the intern made the following recommendations: (1) that the administration of the food service department make provisions to begin the implementation process of piloting a computerized food service department at one of the district's high schools during the 1999-2000 school year; and (2) extend the computerized program to all middle and high school food service programs during the following school term.

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