Eastchester moves to join state’s universal breakfast and lunch program, Aramark to be eligible to bid

The Eastchester district told the board it is pursuing participation in the state’s universal breakfast and lunch program and aims to implement the program by the start of school in September.

Superintendent and food‑service staff said Sean Romero has been working on the application and that the district is “well on the way” to join the program. Administrators noted Eastchester was not previously part of the federal child nutrition program; the first year will serve as a benchmark for reporting metrics that could make the district eligible for additional state funding in future years.

Board members asked whether the current vendor, Aramark, would remain involved; administrators said Aramark will be one of the bidders when the district issues a request for proposals and must be treated ethically during the process. The district plans to go out to bid and then finalize a food management company; administrators said vendor selection will inform menu options and procurement.

Officials discussed operational questions: equipment and storage in elementary cafeterias, potential need for upgrades (freezers, ovens), using the cafeteria fund for equipment purchases, and space constraints that may require further study or eventual inclusion in a capital plan or bond. Administrators said menus must be posted at least 30 days in advance and that standardized portion sizes are specified by program guidelines; they also said menus and nutritional information should improve through the federal program’s vendor relationships.

The district said it is at the start of the application and bidding process, that a detailed parent letter will be prepared over the summer and that further board approvals will be requested as the process advances.