The reaction was audible when co-Superintendent William Michaud announced during a school board meeting in the Pownal Elementary School gymnasium two weeks ago that Judy Goodenow would be retiring this summer as director of food services for Regional School Unit 5.

“There was this big gasp,” said Ginny McManus, assistant to the superintendent.

Few people, if any, can remember a time when Goodenow wasn’t working for Freeport schools or, after RSU 5 was formed in 2009, for Freeport, Durham and Pownal schools. Robert Cartmell was superintendent when the South Freeport native came on as a cook in 1972. Bob Lyman, Eve Bither, Elaine Tomaszewski and Shannon Welsh, as well as three interim superintendents, have been head administrators since then. Freeport was an independent school district at the time, and there was just one kitchen, at the high school. Today, all six RSU 5 schools have kitchens, and Goodenow oversees all of them.

But there are constants, as well. Goodenow, 72, says she’s seen little change in the students.

“They’re still just adorable,” Goodenow said last week from her office. “They might be a little more sophisticated about nutrition.”

Goodenow runs a food service department with a $750,000 budget and 14 employees. They all try to balance nutrition with what kids want, but that’s getting easier nowadays, Goodenow said.

“They still like pizza and chicken nuggets and burgers,” she said, “but baked haddock is popular now, and the salad bars are very popular.”

Goodenow went to grammar school in South Freeport, in the building that is now home to E?cole Franc?aise du Maine. She also attended Grove Street School, now the Town Hall. The middle school Goodenow attended, where The Gap is now located, burned down. Goodenow and her family moved to Brunswick for a short time while she was in high school, so she graduated from Brunswick High in 1960.

She and her husband, Clint, soon moved back to Freeport and raised three children – Clint, Scott and Stephanie – all Freeport High grads. Grandchildren also went through the school system.

Goodenow started as a cook at Freeport High, then took a food service management course, becoming food services director.

“We served meals like Welsh rarebit back then,” she recalled. “Usually it would be canned vegetables. There were no choices. Now we have salad bars, a lot of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and whole grains. We must offer five items – grains, dairy, fruit, protein and vegetables – with every meal. I think most people would say the food’s pretty good here. We have haddock, and the kid things, like chicken nuggets and pizza. We have to be kid-friendly, too.”

New this year, a student can choose three items from the “must list,” but the school must serve at least a half-cup of fresh fruit or vegetables. The bread, pasta and rice must be at least 51 percent whole grain.

“We started going whole grains long before the regulations,” Goodenow said. “Nutrition is my background. I want the best for the kids.”

Goodenow works an eight- to nine-hour day, and spends about half of it in the office. She goes to the school kitchens to check on the products and the meals, then picks up receipts to take back to her office.

“I sometimes even help,” she said. “I go to the high school every day and keep up with the salad bar. It’s fast and furious there, and they need an extra hand. I love the whole part of the job. I enjoy coming to work every day. The district’s very dear to me.”

Goodenow said she has enjoyed working for all the superintendents she has known, and she especially likes Michaud and Mike Lafortune, the two co-superintendents who are serving for one year on an interim basis. Edward McDonough will come on board in September, just after she leaves.

Goodenow is proud of her staff, which won a USDA Healthier Schools Challenge two years ago.

“I’d like to toot the horn of my staff,” she said.

Goodenow said she might find a part-time job – she doesn’t know where. When she leaves, McManus, who has been assistant to the superintendent for 19 years, will be the senior member of the RSU 5 Superintendent’s Office.

“I’m very sad she’s leaving,” McManus said. “Judy remembers everything. I’ll be the historian once Judy leaves.”

McManus said that Goodenow is a focused, hard worker.

“Her main focus is what’s best for the kids. She’s just so kind,” said McManus.

“When people are out, she is in the kitchen, working and washing tables,” she said. “She doesn’t have a secretary. She is up with the times. Whoever we get to replace her isn’t going to have to change much.”

Judy Goodenow

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