School Committee votes to end Whitsons food-service contract; requests transition plan

The Burlington School Committee voted 3–2 to terminate its contract with Whitsons Food Service, with members saying the company had not met expectations on consistent management, participation growth and food quality.

Committee members debated financial and operational details before the vote. “I would like to make motion that we terminate Whitsons’ contract with us, because at this point, I don't see any value in what they're doing,” a member said before moving the motion; the motion was seconded and carried 3–2. A committee member noted a contract clause allowing cancellation with 60 days’ notice: “I believe there is a clause that we can cancel without cause with 60 days advance notice.”

Why it matters: Whitsons was hired in part to increase participation and stabilize the cafeteria revolving fund. Staff and committee members said participation gains have been small since the company began; one committee member observed a 1.1% increase in breakfast participation and a 0.5% increase in lunch participation across the period reviewed. Administrators also said management turnover at Whitsons has required district staff to provide ongoing training and oversight that the contract was expected to deliver.

Details and next steps: District staff told the committee that reimbursements for school meals from federal and state programs have kept the program solvent and that the district can cover the cost of replacing the vendor with an in‑house model. The committee asked for a short timetable and a financial comparison showing the costs of hiring a director, any needed software (menu/allergen app), and running food service in‑house versus the current contract fees. The termination motion passed with the understanding that staff would present a detailed transition plan and cost comparison at the next meeting; the committee acknowledged the contract’s 60‑day cancellation window.

What the district said: Superintendent Eric Conte and staff said they believed the district could maintain service quality during a transition. Carrie Noki, described in the meeting as the district’s Whitsons liaison, described day‑to‑day challenges around staffing and menu consistency: “The staffing was just not what they promised,” she said.

Context: Committee members who supported termination noted that Whitsons initially showed strong effort but that the relationship had not produced the promised long‑term results. Members who opposed immediate termination asked for a detailed financial breakdown before moving forward.

Ending note: The committee approved termination and directed staff to prepare the financial comparisons, staffing proposals and procurement steps needed to run food service locally or to re‑contract, with the aim of presenting those materials at the committee’s next scheduled meeting.