Lyons Township OKs five-year food services contract with Quest after board questions on participation and pricing

The Lyons Township High School District 204 Board of Education voted May 20 to approve a food services management contract with Quest after two weeks of review and a lengthy on‑record discussion about participation, pricing and student feedback.

The decision follows a request for proposal process and subsequent interviews. Brian Stashek, a district staff member who presented the RFP and recommendation, told the board the district had reviewed proposals, scored vendors according to a published rubric and had legal counsel review contract language before bringing Quest’s agreement to the board for a vote.

The contract drew particular attention because Lyons Township’s current per‑capita sales — average daily sales per enrolled student — are low compared with Quest’s district benchmarks. A Quest representative, identified in the meeting as a company speaker, said, “Per capita number isn’t great. It’s very low. I haven’t seen a number that low for an off‑National School Lunch Program high school in a long time,” and argued there is “tremendous opportunity to grow that number” by changing offerings, service patterns and student engagement.

Quest representatives described a set of tools they would deploy if selected, including an electronic feedback platform (“My Customer Voice”), periodic student food committees, staff feedback, and regular business reviews with district staff. The Quest representative said those steps — plus changes in service layout and menu options, including a higher share of plant‑based items — are intended to increase participation without relying on large price increases. “The district retains the ability to maneuver those” item prices, the representative said, urging the board to note that pricing recommendations would still come through district review.

Board members pressed Quest and district staff on staffing, timing and how quickly participation could grow. The presenter said Quest would add staff as transaction volume grows and emphasized that the new South Campus dining layout should speed throughput and support higher participation. Board members and Quest also discussed after‑school sales, grab‑and‑go options and pilot use of a mobile ordering app to reduce lines.

After discussion, the board moved and seconded the contract approval and passed it by roll call (all members voting yes). The approving roll call listed Member Vita Daniels; Member Casaleka Campbell; Member Dylan; Member Giannetti Frye; Member Kennedy; Member Lopez; and President Alvarez as yes votes.

The approved contract includes provisions described in the RFP and incorporates changes made after district legal review; district staff said the RFP becomes the overriding document incorporated into the contract. District staff said Quest will begin implementation work this summer to prepare for the 2025–26 school year.

Board members said they will watch participation, student feedback and pricing closely and use the contract’s checkpoints and scheduled reviews to hold the vendor to the performance commitments described in the proposal.