Memphis City Schools food service staff has won a national award for its innovative approach to offering healthy, low-fat, vegetarian options to students. The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a national nonprofit organization that promotes healthy diets, has named Memphis City Schools a winner in the 2010 Golden Carrot Awards.

The award was presented during this year’s National School Lunch Week, which ran earlier this month. A cash prize accompanies the award: PCRM will give $1,000 to Memphis City Schools nutrition services staff to benefit the district’s food service program.

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By Kontji Anthony - bio | email

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Memphis City Schools Superintendent Kriner Cash told school board members Monday night that dozens of schools may be closed in an effort to keep the school system afloat.

Tuesday, Memphis City Schools Deputy Superintendent Hitesh Haria explained why the district is now considering merging and/or re-purposing some of its 209 schools.

"(To) ensure that we're utilizing our dollars in the best possible manner to get the best lift in student achievement," he said.

According to Haria, there are 50 under-enrolled schools, but that doesn't mean they're all on the chopping block.

"We have to come up with that criteria with our community," he said. "So right now, I can't say what schools are going to be considered or what's the criteria exactly."