The North Santiam School District says goodbye to 30-year employee and welcomes a new food service director.
Toni Silbernagel has worked in and directed food service for the North Santiam School District for more than 30 years, most recently as the Food Service Program director.
Silbernagel is now a child nutrition specialist with the child and adult care food program and the summer food service program at the Oregon Department of Education. She also does preapprovals, renewals and gives general assistance to many sites around Oregon.
“I am excited to be able to help out many programs to help ensure their success in feeding children,” Silbernagel said. “I am very proud of the program that I was able to build, working with a great food service team, while at North Santiam School District. I am the only food service director that has even been at the district, and it was exciting for me to see the program grow and evolve over the years.”
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Silbernagel said NSSD will always be near and dear to her, and that she was blessed to have been able to do a job she truly enjoyed every day.
“Toni grew the program and put her heart into it,” said Jane Nofziger, business manager for NSSD. “She loves kids, food service, nutrition and fun. She enjoys making food service a special part of the students’ day… Many students were not finding their way to the cafeteria due to tight schedules or just wanting a change from the cafeteria environment. Toni created and purchased the food cart, creating a more convenient, but equally nutritious alternative for these busy students.”
School board member Tass Morrison called Silbernagel “innovative.”
“Toni cared deeply about the nutritional health of our students,” Morrison said. “She set the standard high for serving NSSD’s schoolchildren and I greatly appreciate all that she accomplished here.”
Replacing Silbernagel is Mike Vetter, who brings to the job more than 20 years experience as a food service manager. Most recently he served as food service director for Bethel School District, administrator of nutrition at Beaverton School District, and food service director at Central School District.
“Mike brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the district,” Nofziger said. “He is passionate about working in the kitchen with staff. Mike loves scratch cooking and one of his goals is serving food made from scratch. He will start his day in one of the five kitchens throughout the district, preparing food and serving the students along with the staff.”
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Vetter stepped into his new position in February.
“I am really excited about getting absorbed into the community and meeting the families – and giving a voice to children’s nutrition,” Vetter said. “I want to become a part of the NSSD family. I look forward to bringing my excitement about child nutrition to the district. I like making food service fun for our students!”
District officials agree that food service programs in public schools is one of the most highly regulated, complicated, controlled and audited programs provided for children.
“And with good reason,” said Andy Gardner, superintendent for NSSD. “It’s about the health and safety of our children, and our parents must trust that we are doing our best to provide healthy and safe services throughout the day for their children.”
