Peninsula School District approves Aramark food-service contract, board hears details on menu, compliance and pricing

The Peninsula School District Board of Directors voted June 3 to approve a new food-service contract with Aramark, the district’s first change in a vendor for school meals in four decades.

Board President Wemberly called the motion; Director David moved to approve the contract and Director Jennifer seconded. The board voiced no recorded opposition and the motion carried by voice vote.

The district invited Andrew Dobbins, director of business development for Aramark, to the meeting to explain the company’s approach. Dobbins said the vendor will build menus based on student and family preferences and work with principals and staff to tailor offerings locally: "We start with student insights on what do students typically enjoy at each age level, and then we apply that regionally," he said.

Assistant Superintendent Ashley Murphy explained procurement and federal compliance issues the board asked about. Murphy said the district developed an RFP that went beyond OSPI’s template to require higher-quality items and hyperlocal sourcing, then asked bidders to price the district’s pre-specified menu rather than submit lowest-cost sample menus. "We didn't want to go the route of lowest responsive bidder," she said. Murphy added the district worked with OSPI staff to ensure the process complied with state procurement rules.

Murphy told the board the district does not yet know the final paid-meal price families will be charged because a federally required paid‑lunch equity tool has not been released this year. "The Feds haven't released the tool, because they don't know what the cost should be yet," she said. "Based upon Aramark's responsive RFP, the price per meal that the district will be paying is actually less than the price per meal that we're paying currently." She said the district will calculate family charges once the federal tool is published.

Board members asked about portion sizes, staffing, and continuity for current cafeteria employees. Dobbins and Murphy said existing food-service staff employed by the outgoing vendor will be offered positions with Aramark if they choose to transfer; the district plans a hiring event and HR processing to avoid service interruptions. On portions, staff said federal National School Lunch Program portion standards constrain how much can be placed on a single meal tray and that increasing student uptake of salad‑bar and side items will be part of Aramark’s education and engagement work.

The contract includes community-engagement commitments, menu-development events, professional development for staff, and attention to upcoming USDA and HHS nutrition rules, the panel said. Murphy said Aramark’s recipes were already reformulated to meet anticipated federal limits on salt and fat.

The district did not release a full line-item cost of the contract in public comment but described a procurement weighting that treated cost as one factor (roughly 25% in the district’s scoring) alongside program quality, sourcing and sustainability priorities. Board members said they expected further operational details, including the exact family meal price and implementation timeline, to be reported to the board before the new school year.

The board approved the contract and staff will return with implementation details, pricing for families once the federal paid‑lunch tool is published, and plans for student and community engagement in menu design.