BEAUFORT, N.C. — Carteret County Public Schools is pleased to announce a new partnership with Aramark Student Nutrition to manage the district's Child Nutrition Services and school meal program beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.
The partnership marks an exciting new chapter for school nutrition in Carteret County, bringing expanded menu options, fresh initiatives, and operational expertise designed to enhance the dining experience for students while maintaining the district's commitment to providing nutritious, high-quality meals.
"Aramark will be a great partnership for CCPS Child Nutrition, promising revitalization through new initiatives, nutritious and attractive food choices for students, and streamlined management of our school cafeteria staff," said Melissa Albright, Director of Child Nutrition Services for Carteret County Public Schools. "We look forward to working with Aramark this year."
Aramark Student Nutrition serves school districts across the country with a mission to help students succeed by providing nutritious, appealing meals in welcoming dining environments. The company is known for introducing innovative menus, student engagement opportunities, and fresh dining concepts that encourage healthy eating habits.
"Our partnership with Aramark positions us to strengthen and modernize our Child Nutrition program," said Superintendent Richie Paylor. "Because Aramark offers financial efficiencies through its purchasing power, streamlines USDA regulatory compliance, and brings extensive operational expertise, we believe this partnership will continue transforming CCPS Child Nutrition into a self-sustaining, efficient, and high-quality operation."
Students and families can expect several enhancements throughout the coming school year, including expanded menu variety, new recipes, attractive food presentations, and promotional events within school cafeterias. Some cafeterias may also receive updated signage and branding as part of the transition.
While students may notice new food offerings and refreshed dining spaces, many important aspects of the program will remain unchanged:
Cafeteria employees will continue to be the familiar faces students know and trust. Staff members will be trained and managed by both CCPS and Aramark.
School meal payment systems will remain the same.
School-based allergy protocols will remain unchanged and will continue to be monitored by school nurses and school staff.
Meal prices will remain unchanged for the 2026-2027 school year at $2.00 for breakfast and $3.50 for lunch, as established through federal guidelines and approved by the Carteret County Board of Education.
This partnership does not create an additional cost for the school system. Our Child Nutrition program remains the same federally funded program, with CCPS continuing to receive meal reimbursements through the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for eligible meals served.
Aramark's management fee is based on a per-meal contract and is paid through the existing Child Nutrition budget. The agreement also includes a financial performance guarantee for CCPS, so the partnership is designed to strengthen, not increase, the program's cost to the district.
Our cafeteria employees will remain CCPS employees, and students will continue to receive the same nutritious meals they do today. By leveraging Aramark's purchasing power, operational expertise, and menu innovation, we expect to offer greater meal variety, increase student participation, and improve the long-term financial sustainability of our Child Nutrition program, which is a win-win for CCPS students, employees, and our taxpayers.
Carteret County Public Schools will also continue participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) at all qualifying schools, allowing students at those schools to receive free breakfast and lunch each day. Croatan High School, Broad Creek Middle School, and White Oak Elementary School are not CEP schools. Families at those schools may qualify for free or reduced-price meals by completing an application through their school's cafeteria manager. As always, every student will continue to receive a nutritious meal regardless of their ability to pay.
Last school year, student meal debt for CCPS totaled approximately $8,800. Thanks to the generosity of local donors, school funds, and the Carteret Education Foundation's Lunch Debt Relief Fund, all outstanding meal debt was eliminated. The community-led Sign Wars fundraising efforts of 2024 have supported this initiative for more than two years.
As those funds begin to diminish, Carteret County Public Schools encourages businesses, civic organizations, and community members to help ensure no student goes hungry by contributing to the Lunch Debt Relief Fund through the Carteret Education Foundation. Donations can be made at https://www.carteretef.org/donate by selecting or indicating Lunch Debt Relief when making a contribution.
Additional information about the transition to Aramark Student Nutrition will be shared with families and employees as implementation continues throughout the summer.