ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. — Hawkins County Schools' child nutrition manager has been suspended three days without pay and given a permanent letter of reprimand after schoolchildren were served pork that was as much as six years old, school officials said Thursday night.
Failure to follow the terms in the letter of reprimand will result in the manager's termination, according to school officials.
The manager was identified at Mandy Kenner.
Word of the action came as parents gathered at a Hawkins County school board meeting at which members adopted and pledged to follow new guidelines for ensuring old food won't again be served.
The meat, some dating to 2009, had been stored in a freezer until it was prepared as part of school lunches. The pork was believed to be the oldest food item found when officials did a review.
Some parents called at the meeting in Rogersville for the nutritional director to be held responsible for the fact that some students last month were served six-year-old pork after it had been thawed.
Sandra Lewis told board members her son had eaten the old meat at his school cafeteria.
"He goes, 'I tried to eat lunch today. It wasn't that great.' I was like, Well, what did you eat?' He says, 'I don't know what it was.' "
Lewis said she was appalled.
Board of Education members said they would do better job so that such events don't happen again.