Suggested evaluation strategies for GREEN Recycling and Reducing Food Waste in Racine Schools

Submitted 09.04.2018

Terri Ward

UW-Extension FoodWIse Administrator

Suggested best practices that should be taken prior to the collaborative effort needed to develop
evaluation plans and metrics.

1. Write a specific situation statement that identifies the problem, need for change, and the
anticipated outcomes of the project with a timeline (research or evidence based, would ideally
draw on and inform the following pieces of information). This statement will evolve over time
but is a good way to maintain focus and gauge progress. It looks like we aim to measure three
things: food waste, “health” of lunchroom, and the prevalence of recycling. This is a big
project!

Some resources to consider (please add research and evidence-based data sources here):

https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-management-food/reduce-wasted-food-feeding-hungry-
people

https://www.smarterlunchrooms.org/scorecard-tools/measuring-consumption-smarter-
lunchroom-tray-waste

https://www.smarterlunchrooms.org/about/research-2018-smarter-lunchrooms-symposium

https://www.smarterlunchrooms.org/scorecard

ADD MORE HERE RE: RECYCLING PROGRAMS AND METRICS

2. Logic Model- Identify resources, inputs, outputs, assumptions, and desired impacts needed to
pilot the program. (Perhaps this is the overall document outlining the program on David’s list of
committee tasks. It would be beneficial to work on this in the larger group as it evolves so all are
on the same page. This step really helps identify assumptions and helps us think through the
steps and anticipate challenges or hurdles and refine the processes ahead of time.)

 Volunteer hours needed to implement (lay out clear expectations)

 What type of logistical buy-in and systems are needed

o From whom or which departments in RUSD and/or other organizations?

o Teachers or volunteers? (Volunteers must have WINGS completed, other

considerations?)
 o Communication RE: protocol (who is herding all the cats and how?)

o Gleaning metrics (see gleaning metrics suggestions, above. I strongly suggest using a
random sample of students to more easily measure waste, as opposed to trying to
measure the entire cafeteria’s pre and post lunch weights. This would be part of the
conversation and based on resources available, such as staff and time, etc.)

o Smarter Lunchroom score cards, what other tools are needed?

o Recycling processes (what is in place and who else needs to be engaged)?

3. Based on the resources available and initial input from RUSD and volunteers, identify one to
three pilot schools that are interested and capable of working on the project over the three
year term.

It looks like David has this on Janell’s list of things to do, however North Park and 21 st Century
have also been identified as possibilities. Others? Red Apple is a school that has historically had
staff engagement with recycling. Others? What is the criteria for choosing the schools and
allocating resources? (As a reminder, UW-Extension FoodWIse receives a federal grant and can
only work with schools wherein 50% or more of the students are eligible to receive F&R priced
lunches).