School nutrition manager has perfect score on every health inspection since 2006

COWETA COUNTY, Ga. — It takes hard work to get 100 on a food health inspection. A school nutrition manager in Coweta County has managed to get 100 on every inspection since 2006.

Channel 2's Carol Sbarge went to Northgate High School in Newnan to find out how Debbie Mayes keeps such a perfect school cafeteria. Mayes says she loves her staff, but they know they better follow the rules and be prepared for a health inspection anytime.

Mayes is by the book and expects her staff in the kitchen to be, too. She told Sbarge that you have to have a staff that cares.

She makes sure hair restraints are worn and hands are washed with hot water. Mayes is proof to every student in the school that those words of wisdom parents and teacher always stress, “work hard and follow the rules,” pays off.

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The school kitchen gets two health inspections each year. Every inspection at Northgate has been a perfect 100. Mayes says teachers and the school staff are encouraging and proud.

Announcements are made when another 100 inspection score is posted.

Mayes also has a bell she’ll suddenly ring in the kitchen, meaning she’s about to give a surprise mock inspection to her staff. She says she’s a firm believer in work schedules so everyone knows exactly what they need to do throughout the day.

Mayes has been running the kitchen for 22 years.

She only dipped below a 100 twice in all that time. Mayes, who doesn’t like a lot of attention, was very surprised it was her proud husband who told Sbarge about all the 100s.

Mayes says she and her staff have a big incentive to keep getting the perfect health scores. She says they all really love the kids and that’s why they do the job they do.

Cox Media Group