$93,607 approved for 3 new ovens
RUSSELLVILLE — The Franklin County Board of Education has agreed to spend $93,607 to purchase new cafeteria ovens for Tharptown schools.
The board approved two bids last week from Mobile Fixture & Equipment Company.
Superintendent Greg Hamilton said the ovens will be installed no later than June 15.
The purchases include two six-rack, natural gas ovens costing $46,440 and one 20-rack, natural gas oventhat costs $47,167.
Child Nutrition Program Director Robynn Bragwell said the new equipment will replace two ovens that no longer function.
“We’ve had the newer one worked on and worked on and worked on,” she said of an oven that is 11 years old. “Service calls to have equipment repaired in a restaurant setting are very expensive.”
An older Blodgettbrand oven failed after maintenance staff exhausted repair options due to being unable to get parts for it.
“We had to have new parts, and you just can’t find them,” Bragwell said.
Bragwell said the district purchased the ovens using Child Nutrition Program reimbursement funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
She said Tharptown’s cafeteria prepares around 1,000 meals daily for students and adults.
