District staff recommend renewing Fresh Picks food‑service contract; program running a positive balance this year

District staff told the North Middlesex School Committee they plan to renew the existing food‑service contract with Fresh Picks for the upcoming year, the fifth and final optional renewal year under the original one‑plus‑four agreement.

Nancy Haines, presenting the renewal amendment, said the vendor projects a positive fund balance of just under $22,000 at the end of FY26 based on current revenues and reimbursements. Haines explained the school food‑service program is a revolving fund largely supported by federal and state reimbursements for meals; money in that fund must be used for food‑service operations, including equipment replacement and facility repairs. "We're about 170,000 in the to the good for this year," Haines said when summarizing recent financial reports (quarterly submissions to the state are required).

Haines and Superintendent Brad Morgan noted the vendor has been responsive to prior complaints and that recent years have shown improved food quality and student satisfaction, especially at the middle and high school levels. Next year, district policy requires an RFP process to solicit competing proposals because the contract is at its allowable renewal limit, and the committee was told a small review committee will evaluate proposals.

No formal vote to finalize a multi‑year contract amendment was taken at the meeting; staff presented the renewal/amendment and asked for committee questions. Committee members requested the program’s profit‑and‑loss information through March and asked that staff share the food‑service financial report and any RFP timeline with the committee.