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District discusses Sodexo contract renewal and explains high school —unit lunch—; board requests update in fall
Summary
Administrators described a renewal of the district's food-service management contract with Sodexo and outlined a high-school schedule change to a single-period 'unit lunch' next year; the board asked for a presentation on menu and operations and requested an update in October or November.
The district discussed renewing its food-service management contract with Sodexo and described operational changes tied to a high-school schedule redesign.
School Business Administrator Michael Hastings told the board the district will enter year three of a potential five-year contract extension with Sodexo. "The prices reflected here are the prices that Sodexo charges us, as the contractor," Hastings said, and he added that the contract prices do not determine student meal prices. "Those will be approved, probably in May or June," he said.
Board members asked whether recent menu changes were reflected in the contract increases; Hastings responded that the increases reflected the Consumer Price Index and not menu changes, though he said Sodexo has been providing a greater variety of foods and that nutritional information is available online. He also said the district would add staff to support a high-school "unit lunch" without additional cost to the district and that new equipment will be installed to service the concept.
The "unit lunch" model — presented to the board by a staff member, identified in the meeting as Mrs. Kazuba — will move the high school from staggered lunch groups to a single lunch period when the entire school will eat at once. Under the plan, students will have multiple eating-location options: the cafeteria, a designated seniors' area, the gym with bleachers and other common spaces such as the library. Hastings said the district is balancing student options with cleanliness and staffing demands.
Board members asked for a fuller briefing on food offerings and operations. One board member requested a presentation explaining the changes and menu options; the board agreed to request an update on the unit-lunch rollout in October and November after the new schedule is in place.
The administration also acknowledged donations to upcoming early-childhood events from community partners including Wegmans, Wawa and Chick-fil-A.
