APS Nutrition Services debuts renovated workspace for transition to in-house service

Atlanta Public Schools is going all-in on its transition to bringing Nutrition Services fully in-house and celebrated bringing the entire department under one roof with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Phoenix Academy.

“The district made a very strategic decision to be more student-focused, and respond quicker to the needs of the community and the students,” APS senior executive director of child nutrition services Eric Bankhead said. “When they made the decision to go self-operational, we needed a space that could house our new department. The excitement here is for the new space, new opportunities, a new start, and we’re looking forward to the 2024-25 school year.”

The workspace for APS Nutrition Services on the backside of Phoenix Academy went through a complete transformation. APS nutrition equipment and warehouse manager Anisa Bradford gave the department a complete makeover with new artwork along the walls, a collaborative design layout, organic design concepts, plenty of natural light and other updates that made the new workspace more inviting for employees.

“Before, it was kind of drab,” Bradford said. “Studies show that in our schools, when we bring in natural light you get a better learning environment, and it works the same for the workplace too. Employees want to feel engaged. They want to come to work. They want to participate. And we need that creativity.”

The APS Nutrition Services department also now has its own training rooms, collaborative spaces, huddle rooms, Mimio smartboards, and IT suites all in one location. The cubicle walls were lowered to reduce isolation, and the adjustable desks can be raised giving employees the option to stretch their legs while they work.

“We’ve had people broken up between two different offices trying to move between them, work out plans, and try to be creative and do things like that,” Bankhead said. “Anisa Bradford did an amazing job to make it collaborative. This helps when you’re talking about brainstorming on menus or different events.”

APS Nutrition Services employees who got a first look at their new workspace were impressed with the new layout and seemed eager to see all the new offerings available to them.

“The design, it’s different than what I normally do,” Bradford said. “I normally focus strictly on the kitchen. But this time, I got to bring in how I would want to see a workplace and bring my passion for art. It was just an exciting opportunity.”

“Those who have seen this space before, it’s sort of like a phoenix,” she added. “You know, after the ashes and there’s this transformation. I just think they feel enthusiastic about what is to come.”