Board renews Aramark food‑service contract; district highlights hydroponic garden and menu changes
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Summary
The board approved a one‑year renewal of the Aramark food service management contract; Aramark’s food‑service director highlighted increased participation, a school hydroponic FlexFarm and planned premium proteins and signage to boost high school meal uptake.
The Shorewood School District board voted to renew its food service management agreement with Aramark for an additional year, a routine annual renewal required by state regulations following a 2023 RFP that selected Aramark as the district’s food‑service provider.
Board members moved and seconded the contract renewal; the motion passed at the meeting. The contract includes a roughly 3% price increase in line with CPI — an amount the administration characterized as a small increase of roughly $2,000 for the coming year.
Aramark Food Service Director Israel Taylor presented program performance data and plans. Taylor said breakfast participation rose by an average of 17 meals per school day and lunch by about 66 meals per school day compared with the previous year; a la carte sales declined, concentrated at the high school, which officials attributed to menu changes and exclusions of soda at elementary schools.
Taylor highlighted the district’s FlexFarm hydroponic system, which produces lettuce used in school salads and on sandwiches. “Our lettuce is homegrown in hydroponic gardens,” Taylor said, describing new signage and marketing planned to make on‑site produce more visible to students. Taylor also outlined plans to introduce “premium proteins” and other limited‑time menu specials to better compete with local restaurant options and boost high‑school participation.
Board members asked granular questions about food‑service billing items such as “extra entree” charges; Taylor explained that a reimbursable meal covers a main entree plus sides, and additional entrees are billed separately. Director Hevelin (business services) and board members thanked Taylor for the program’s community engagement work and requested continued updates on participation and food costs.
The board approved the contract renewal by motion; no member requested tabling the item for further review.
The board also approved the superintendent’s consent agenda earlier in the meeting by motion.
