But Leslie Fowler, who was appointed executive director of Nutritional Support Services for CPS two months ago, is not happy about what happened.
“Quite frankly, it was a failure at all levels,” she says.
Hirsh now has a new principal and new kitchen staff.
Other schools that failed inspections include Farragut Academy, where inspectors said there were too many droppings too count; Songhai Learning Academy, where a live snake was found stuck to glue paper in the kitchen; and Ariel Academy, where inspectors heard “gnawing sounds” in the wall.
“Makes you wonder if you are talking about a Chicago public school or a Chicago public zoo,” Shelke says.
Fowler, the new school-lunch boss for CPS, met CBS 2 at Brian Piccolo Elementary School, which had failed two previous inspections. It was spotless for the visit.
Like other schools, Zekman pointed out, health inspectors had found rodent droppings all over the kitchen area, many in plain sight on the ledge of a steam table and inside a food warmer which kitchen staff must have seen.
Fowler says she will improve school lunches system-wide by making sure proper procedures are followed, implementing changes that will prevent future lapses and increasing oversight.
Her message to staff: “Don’t let me find out that a student is harmed at your hands. This is unacceptable. Not on my watch.”
All of the schools in this report eventually passed inspections, including most recently Hirsh, where the kitchen is now open and the staff replaced.
Article Appeared @http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/10/29/2-investigators-chicago-schools-flunk-food-inspections/
Also Appeared @http://blackubiquity.com/news/item/10920-chicago-schools-flunk-food-inspections