Board approves Compass Group food-service contracts; district to add summer reading activity and raise paid meal prices
Summary
The board approved two food-service contracts with Compass Group (Chartwells), including summer feeding at five sites with a reading activity and a final contract extension for the 2025–26 school year that includes increases to paid meal prices.
The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education approved two food-service contracts with Compass Group (the parent company of Chartwells): a summer 2025 feeding contract and the final extension of the existing school-year food-service contract for 2025–26.
What was approved: Dr. Stewart presented the contracts and said the summer contract is largely unchanged from last year but adds a required activity tied to the feeding program — this year the district will partner with the Public School Foundation to provide daily reading activities at five summer sites: Craig O'Mane, Oakwood, Airport Gardens, Colony Woods West and South Estes. The second contract is the final option year of the Chartwells/Compass Group management contract first approved in 2021.
Why it matters: Dr. Stewart told the board that the district is not eligible for broad Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) status because the district’s free-and-reduced-price meal rate is roughly 30%, below the 60% threshold many districts need for universal CEP coverage. As a result, the district will have to adjust paid meal prices in 2025–26; Dr. Stewart reported planned increases of 15 cents for breakfast and 40 cents for lunch for paying students. He said the increases will not affect students who receive free or reduced-price meals.
Board action: The board chair asked for a motion, a motion and second were recorded and the chair called the ayes; the motion passed unanimously.
Implementation notes: Dr. Stewart said the district will run an RFP process this fall to select a future food-service contractor after this final extension. He also said two district positions that remained staffed earlier in the contract reverted to contractor staffing after retirements this school year.
Ending: Board members asked clarifying questions about the summer sites and noted the need to communicate price changes to families. The contracts took effect after the board’s unanimous approval.
