Waukegan board hears feasibility study urging tighter oversight and possible rebid of school food service contract

Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 administrators on Sept. 25 presented a feasibility study of the district's food service that recommended immediate corrective action, stronger contract oversight and a competitive bid process for the 2026-27 school year.

The study, prepared by Walker Quality Food Services and reviewed with the board by Mr. Moulton (district administrator leading the presentation) and district staff, flagged concerns about menu variety, aging kitchen equipment at elementary sites, service speed, student waste and limited district oversight of the vendor relationship with Sodexo.

The report prompted discussion about near-term fixes and the longer-term option of rebidding the district's food service contract. "We have operating kitchens at the middle school and high school, and then we provide food to the elementary schools," Mr. Moulton said during the presentation, summarizing the district's centralized operating model and the infrastructure gap at several elementary campuses.

Why it matters: the food service program affects every student's daily nutrition, meal participation and amount of time available to eat. The consultant's findings link operational issues (equipment and supply constraints) with student satisfaction and measurable waste, and the board discussed whether contract…