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Board approves contract negotiations for central kitchen amid federal funding concerns
Summary
The board authorized negotiation and award of a progressive design‑build contract for a district central kitchen, while directors and staff discussed federal funding uncertainty and the programmatic goal of improving meal quality.
The Tacoma School District Board approved moving forward to negotiate and award a progressive design‑build contract for a district central kitchen, a project staff says will reduce reliance on prepackaged meals and improve nutrition.
The board approved the recommendation to negotiate with B and B Builders for the Central Kitchen Project; the agenda listed the funding source as capital bond proceeds approved by voters on Feb. 13, 2024. The vote passed unanimously.
Why it matters: The district serves meals to a large share of students and the central kitchen would allow more scratch cooking and lower-processed ingredients, officials said. Board members asked how potential federal and state funding changes could affect the project and ongoing meal service.
District staff said the central kitchen is intended to reduce use of prepackaged foods and provide fresher meals across schools. “We are legally required to feed kids,” Superintendent Garcia said during the discussion, explaining that nutrition programs are governed by federal and state rules and that the district participates in community eligibility provisions that expand free meal access.
Board members asked whether delaying the project would save money if federal nutrition funding is reduced; staff replied that construction costs are rising and delaying could increase total cost. Staff said the district had evaluated meal participation and financial scenarios and concluded that the central kitchen is a high priority among capital‑bond projects.
The formal motion (agenda item 14.8) to authorize negotiation and award of a progressive design‑build contract with B and B Builders passed by voice vote with no opposition. The board previously approved related capital projects and a voter‑approved bond that staff said would fund the work.
Construction timing and the final guaranteed maximum price will be determined in negotiations and later brought back to the board for approval as required.
