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Elkhart food‑service employees say Chartwells rescinded offers; board hears pleas for transparency
Summary
At the July 8 Elkhart Community Schools board meeting, former and current food‑service employees described job offers from contractor Chartwells that were later rescinded, the loss of accrued leave time, and asked the district for clearer communication about hiring standards and promised raises.
Several current and recently separated food‑service employees told the Elkhart Community Schools board on July 8 that job offers from contractor Chartwells were rescinded and that the district’s communication about the transition was unclear.
At the board meeting, public commenter Diane Carr described multiple employees who were told they would be hired by Chartwells but later had offers withdrawn. “One of the employees worked an entire day for Chartwells only to be told they no longer were needed due to something on the background check,” Carr said, adding that the matter was later dismissed and “there were no charges.” She said employees had been told “everyone will have a job” and that a promised pay increase had not materialized for many staff.
Sarah Castleman, who identified herself as food‑services staff, said she lost accrued sick and PFI time totaling 969 hours and called the loss “bittersweet,” saying the real reward of 14 years with the district was the companionship of coworkers. “There will always be students that need to eat and Elkhart is blessed to have such compassionate staff to plan and prepare those meals,” Castleman said.
Carr and Castleman also asked the board for greater transparency about differences between district hiring standards and Chartwells’ standards. Carr cited one employee, Sharon Stout, who she said wanted to continue with Chartwells but was told the district did not want her; Carr asked whether Chartwells was “pointing the blame back to you.”
Board members did not take a formal action on the staffing complaints during the meeting. President Scott and other trustees said publicly offered comments are heard and that staff follow up when details require clarification. “We do hear you,” President Scott said. A board member added that the public‑comment format limits back‑and‑forth but pledged that the board asks questions and follows up when new information arises.
The speakers asked for (1) clearer pre‑hire communication to employees about contractor standards, (2) reconsideration or explanation of rescinded offers where background checks produced no charges, and (3) resolution of unpaid or uncompensated leave balances. The district did not provide a detailed timeline for follow up during the meeting; board members encouraged employees to pursue the directed follow‑up through HR and the business office as appropriate.
Background: The statements were made during the meeting’s public‑comment period. No contract award or personnel action was taken at the July 8 meeting related to Chartwells during the portions of the meeting recorded in the transcript.
