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Parents press district on school lunches as Aramark contract extension discussed
Summary
Community members asked whether food choices and portions have improved after the district extended its Aramark contract; administrators said Aramark meets with students twice yearly and the district has added dinner offerings and halal options based on student feedback.
During public comment on June 10 PTA and community members raised concerns about school lunch quality and portion sizes while noting the board had an agenda item related to the district’s food service contract with Aramark.
Resident Glenys Palacios, speaking as high school PTSA president, thanked the board for the Peru trip and asked whether students’ concerns about lunch quantity and choices had been addressed in the contract extension. “Has there been a report of maybe better choices of food and or amount of foods?” she asked.
A district staff member replied that Aramark meets with students at every school once in the fall and once in the spring to review menus and implement changes based on student feedback. The superintendent and other administrators noted the district has expanded offerings, including a dinner program covered in local coverage, and that the superintendent’s student advisory council meets with Aramark. Administrators said the district recently added halal choices and other menu options in response to student input.
Earlier in the meeting a staff member explained that the district is exercising a second extension of its food service management contract after a bid two years ago; the transcript records that last year’s extension was the first and this would be the second extension.
No vote on the Aramark extension was recorded during the public comment exchange. The district asked families with specific suggestions to pass them along to Aramark through school channels.
